tune for tuesday // on an on

One of my very favorite things to do is to drive around the city (or, in my case, be driven). Windows down. Music blaring. Perhaps it is because, prior to life in San Francisco, open window weather was so rare, so special. Or perhaps because, as non-driving city dwellers, riding in a non-cab is considered a momentous occasion. Either way, it is simply one of my greatest joys in life.

Last night, Dave and I had the pleasure of renting a car to drive our dog, Margot, to 'camp' before we departed for yet another Chicago trip. Of course, I had a playlist all ready to go.

The first track on said playlist? On an On's 'The Hunter.' It was so dreamy, so fun, so perfect for a warm summer evening drive that I couldn't help but play it over and over and over. We never made it to track two.

And now that I have seen the video, I adore this song even more. Doesn't this make you want to headbang? I mean really, when was the last time you let your hair down and thrashed? It feels amazing and I highly recommend it.

But maybe not while driving :)

This song makes me so happy.

And off to Chicago we go!

tune for tuesday // generationals

Trying to fit five days worth of clothes and shoes into one carry-on suitcase is a challenge, to say the least (for me anyway). Packing for the weird and unpredictable weather that is Chicago in the spring? Nearly impossible.

So as I stand in front of my closet, staring, endlessly pondering, I've been listening to the new(ish) Generationals album on repeat.

I must say, this song might just be saving me from a mini-breakdown :)



In other news, I'm going to Chicago this week! Heck yeah!

big sur // as seen through my iphone

I have been dying to share the highlights of our Big Sur trip, but due to some computer issues, I haven't been able to sort through the gazillion photos I took. So, until I can tackle that beast of a project, my iphone pics will have to do.

Guys. Big Sur stole my heart. I loved it so freaking much. It is my new favorite place in the world. 

The best of the best of the best? Getting to experience one of my all time favorite bands, Grizzly Bear, play an intimate moonlit show under the redwoods. No, it most certainly does not get any better than that.

Also, I realize the quality of these videos is terrible and, even worse, they aren't even full songs, but I can't resist spreading a little bit of Big Sur Grizzly Bear love.  

Yes, I know it's very dark. That was the point. Just a pretty song in the moonlight... with heat lamps :)

tune for tuesday // wild belle

Thanks to Coachella, there is a plethora of amazing concerts in California this week. In fact, today we are driving down to Big Sur to see Grizzly Bear at the Henry Miller Memorial Library. To say I am excited would be the understatement of the century.

And just a few days ago, we had the pleasure of seeing Wild Belle and Yeasayer at Mezzanine (see above).

Today's tune is in honor of that show. While I have seen Yeasayer four (!) times before, this was my first time seeing Wild Belle, who just so happens to be from Chicago. Yeasayer gives one hell of a live performance (the best, actually) and Wild Belle is pretty high up there too. We had a fantastic time - especially me, as I have a special place in my heart for music with even the slightest hint of reggae influence.

Enjoy.

tune for tuesday // dan croll

My entire life could be described as a series of obsessions. Be it a band, an item of clothing, a book, a historical era, a food, a color, whatever. I become so focused on one thing, I live it and breathe it. Until the next thing comes along...

Mostly though, I am obsessed with songs. Sometimes a whole album will creep in there, but it's usually just a song. A song that plays on repeat until I know every single measure, word, beat, riff by heart. It drives my husband crazy! The question, "really, that one again?" is heard often in our home :)

I thought maybe I would share these musical obsessions in a new series I'm calling "tune for tuesday." Creative, I know.

Here's my pick for this week. (Best played at maximum volume.)



I think it's especially wonderful because you can dance to it.

P.S. Happy Birthday Marmee!

kishi bashi (and our very bad dog)

A few days ago, Dave and I finally got to see Kishi Bashi at the Great American Music Hall. I say 'finally' because the last time we bought tickets to see him back in Chicago, we had to miss the show due to the timing of our move. Unfortunate and disappointing as it was, I guess can't complain too much. There are worse things in life than moving to California, that's for certain.

Still, Kishi Bashi's debut album 151a was by far my favorite album of 2012. And let me tell you, I was absolutely devastated when we couldn't see him last September. As such, my level of excitement for this show was out. of. control. Guys, I have been referring to February as 'Kishi Bashi Month' since we got the tickets back in December.

But guess what? We *almost* missed this show too.

While we were out enjoying a pre-show dinner date, our management company called to inform us that our dog was howling -- very, very loudly -- and the neighbors were not happy about it. Worst. Timing. Ever.

Now, most greyhounds are the chillest little babies around, but not our Margot. No. Our poor girl is about as high-strung as can be and she hates to be away from her people, even for a second. We had a pretty solid routine going in Chicago, which kept her separation anxiety under control, but all progress was lost when we picked up and moved. The whole ordeal was pretty confusing to our little pea-brained pup and sadly, her anxiety worsened. So last month we finally caved and started her on anti-depressants (please don't judge). Except, they haven't quite kicked in yet ...

We hurriedly paid our bill, rushed out of the restaurant, and hopped on the bus towards home. Sure enough, we could hear her crying as soon as we stepped off the elevator. Very bad dog.

With less than an hour before show time, we decided to take extreme measures. First we took her for a long run to wear her out, then slipped her some Benadryl to make her drowsy (a tip we learned from the vet for occasions such as these), then sat and ignored her for an hour until she dosed off (another tip from the vet), and finally snuck back out.

Worked like a charm.

And thank goodness! We arrived just as Kishi Bashi took the stage to put on one of the best live performances I have ever seen. This guy is crazy brilliant, creative, talented, and cute as a button. I adore him.

If you are not listening to Kishi Bashi yet, you really are missing out on some incredible music. See?

(this is not from the show we attended, it's just a beautiful performance of one of my favorite songs)



And, if you're interested, here's an extended explanation of how he builds the layers of sound:


Kishi Bashi Explains his Delay/Loop Pedals live in the Studio at KBV Records from KBV Records on Vimeo.

So. Good.

a sunday smile

I cannot, cannot, cannot get enough of this. It is perfection.



That is all.

soundtrack 2012

When I was but a wee sophomore in high school, I enrolled in a theatre class for fun (for those who don't know me, this is remarkable simply because I am, and always have been, painfully shy -- for a time, I couldn't even order my own Taco Bell in the mall food court). On the first day of class, as an ice-breaker activity, we were randomly called upon to share our favorite thing in the world.

I purposefully sat in the back, slumped down in my desk, and avoided eye contact with the teacher, hoping my presence would be overlooked. But alas, after every other kid had spoken (do you know how many high schoolers love the smell of freshly cut grass? a lot), she indeed found me. 

"Um, that feeling you get when you hear an old song and it takes you back to the first time you ever heard it. Like a time warp or something."

*crickets chirping*

Okay, I realize my answer was not exactly profound but judging by the looks I got, you would think I confessed to torturing puppies. 

To this day, I still don't understand why that was such a bizarre answer. But whatever, it remains true.

Music has always been one of my greatest pleasures in life and since that year of high school, I have made a point to create a 'best of' playlist at each year's end. Not because I claim to be a music critic or anything of the sort, but as a means to catalog and someday revisit the events of the last twelve months.

In no particular order, the songs that will always make me think of 2012:

christmas in the room

Oh, just another post about Sufjan Stevens. Are you shocked? Well you shouldn't be. (As I've mentioned before, I utterly adore him.)

Last week we attended the Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-a-Long at the Great American Music Hall and, let me tell you, it was an absolute blast. Even Scrooge McDave was smiling, swaying, and singing. It was fantastic.

I mean, this show had all the elements of a classic Christmas concert: Christmas carols, snowmen, elves, standup comedy, a trombone player dressed as a giant hot dog, a bassist in a chicken costume, a Mexican skeleton drummer, a singing glitter nun, bubble machines, paper snow, inflatable unicorns, an encore with 'Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland Illinois,' and of course, Surfjams Stephanopoulos himself as a neon Christmas Unicorn. Naturally.

But it wasn't the elaborate costumes, silly jokes, or even Sufjan Stevens' abounding talent that made this a night to remember. No, it was the crowd. For one night in San Francisco, a bunch of twenty-something hipsters gathered together and sang along to cheesy Christmas songs without a hint of irony or self-consciousness. It was heartfelt and yes, magical. Now that is a Christmas miracle.

As my Christmas gift to you, my favorite song of the night. Perhaps my favorite Christmas love song ever (if that's even a thing):

Is that not the sweetest song you've ever heard?

When we come together and just sing in harmony, in unison - it's a powerful thing.... That's why they call the voice the sacred heart; it's within all of us. Everything else is just white noise. - Sufjan Stevens

majesty snowbird

Dave often pokes fun at my penchant for eccentric musicians, especially my profound love for Sufjan Stevens (see also: Andrew Bird, Jens Lekman, Kishi Bashi, Beirut, Destroyer, Mark Oliver Everett, and Billy Corgan.)

Whatever. My music has soul.

Anyway, it is only a few more days until the Surfjohn Stevens Christmas Sing-A-Long: Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice at the Great American Music Hall. YES, that's right! I am absolutely dragging my poor husband to a Sufjan Stevens Christmas sing-a-long, where apparently, Mr. Stevens will be dressed up as a Christmas Unicorn. I love him and I CANNOT WAIT. 

This will be my fourth Sufjan concert and I certainly hope it is not the last. For a Sufjan Stevens show is always a treat.

The first time I saw him was way back in September 2006 at the Riviera in Chicago. During that night's set, he played a new song from a never-released album about birds (maybe eccentric is an understatement). Within the first few notes of the ten-minute epic 'Majesty Snowbird,' I was sold. Six years later, this haunting and beautiful masterpiece is still one of my all-time favorite songs. I utterly adore it and I so, so, so hope he plays it on Wednesday. I mean, it's about a snowbird, so it could potentially be played at a Christmas-themed show, right? RIGHT? Please?

What can I say? I love a man who is not afraid to wear a giant pair of butterfly wings.

P.S.

If you are interested, Sufjan's new Christmas album, Silver & Gold, is streaming here and here. 

And some silly promo videos are available for your viewing pleasure here.

Did I mention that I love him?

all things go

Chicago, you will always have a special place in my heart. 

When Milo Greene covered Sufjan Stevens's 'Chicago' during their Lollapalooza set this year (above), I nearly exploded with joy. After all, 'Come on Feel the Illinoise' was released mere weeks before I decided to move to Chicago, nearly seven (seven!!!) years ago. My love affair with this song was so profound, it may have actually been the deciding factor :)

As of Friday, we are completely moved out of our Chicago apartment and we are now living with my sister in Oak Park for our last few days in Illinois. Even though we can still see our beloved skyline from here, we are - officially - no longer Chicagoans.

BUT, in only a few more days, we will be Californians! San Francisco, I am so very excited to meet you!

Now, we just need to figure out how we are going to get there...

As my college roommate always used to say, 'IT'S GO TIME!'

lollapalooza

This post is a little overdue, but here are a few shots from Lollapalooza. This is our sixth year of attending and boy, we are getting old. It was scorching! But aside from the heat, the crowds, the rain, and the three-hour evacuation, it was a blast :)

Chicago is a beautiful setting; that skyline gets me every time.

my handsome husband // the shins

taking a little break // metric

that skyline // m83

aftershow drinks // eleven city diner

shelter from the storm // back at eleven city diner

re-entry line post evacuation // monroe street

weekend highlight // twin shadow

a much nicer day in chicago // oberhofer

did i mention that skyline?