I've had the pleasure of seeing a LOT of live music this summer. It's been an eye-opening experience as I'm exposed to new talent and new sounds that I may never have expected to enjoy. Through attending all these shows, you get a chance to hear what other people think is cool and interesting. Here's a quick run-through of the new music I've particularly enjoyed and the bands with which I've been especially impressed.
1. Hello Kavita - Denver band with a great sense of musicality. A perfect blend of simple, mellow vocals with enthusiastic and complex instrumentation and musicianship. As I mentioned previously, I especially love their cover of Paul Simon's "You Can Call me Al," (which I was fortunate enough to hear at the show last night at the Fox Theatre in Boulder) because it is exactly what a cover song should be, fresh and interesting, but familiar enough so that we can all sing along.
2. Rapture - maybe not a local band, but one I would love to see live. Their ultra-cool/eighties-glam brand of Disco-Punk is upbeat and catchy and really rocks. "House of Jealous Lovers" and "Whoo! Alright . . . Yeah, Uh Hu" are certain to make you want to dance until you sweat.
3. Blitzen Trapper - Portland based rockers with a cool, folksey sound, imagery-inspiring lyrics and brilliant three part harmonies. Put Furr, the newest album, on repeat and enjoy all day.
4. Overcasters - another local band of which I've only caught a few songs at a local showcase, but thoroughly impressive. Think of U2 with an "edge." Darker, harder, but still creative and melodic, these guys have got something.
5. Swayback - recently signed with Capitol records these guys have that rock band sound that urges crazed female fans to ask for signatures on body parts.
6. Bon Iver - aptly named "good winter,"the much mellower, more melancholy sound that makes me want to curl up in front of a fire place and wait out a blizzard. Lyrically interesting and melodically simple, this singer-song writer sticks in your ears.
Of course I have to include my own family members in this short list of favorites. Philip and Allison are taking their sound to the public. Playing to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd at the Avery Brewery Tasting Room a few weeks ago, and now producing and distributing a demo CD to promote their vast and unique talents. Keep an eye out for these rising stars, and remember: you heard it here first.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Bliss
It has been an unspeakably happy week.
I have so much going on, but I'm not letting it stress me out. I have too many pressures on my time and energy, but I'm saying "no" gracefully and maintaining my personal boundaries. I'm being productive and marking things off my to-do list. I'm looking for a new apartment and looking forward to a change.
Things are just good right now. I am very blessed, indeed.
I have so much going on, but I'm not letting it stress me out. I have too many pressures on my time and energy, but I'm saying "no" gracefully and maintaining my personal boundaries. I'm being productive and marking things off my to-do list. I'm looking for a new apartment and looking forward to a change.
Things are just good right now. I am very blessed, indeed.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wild Mountain Nation
Over the last few months I've had the pleasure of attending a variety of live music shows here in Denver. Many of them have left me simply content with having experienced some young, unknown musicians testing their talents before an enthusiastic but sophisticated audience. Last night I had the opportunity to hear Blitzen Trapper (http://www.blitzentrapper.net/), the hard-rock turned Indie-folk-pop band from Portland, Oregon - Wow: these guys are for real.
Typically I lose interest in a show after about 45 minutes if I'm not familiar with a band or if they don't play a cool cover to draw me in. After every single tune last night, I thought, "wow, that was really good." My ears kept wanting more.
The style is so simple and hearkens back to the folk music of Appalachia with gospel-ready lyrics, three-part harmonies, and some traditional instrumentation like a acoustic guitar and harmonica. But the sound is complex and exciting. Incorporating the electric sound of a rock band adds depth and energy to their oft-mellow tunes.
I'm currently enjoying my third listen through their newest album, Furr. Join the Wild Mountain Nation of Blitzen Trapper - you're in good company.
Typically I lose interest in a show after about 45 minutes if I'm not familiar with a band or if they don't play a cool cover to draw me in. After every single tune last night, I thought, "wow, that was really good." My ears kept wanting more.
The style is so simple and hearkens back to the folk music of Appalachia with gospel-ready lyrics, three-part harmonies, and some traditional instrumentation like a acoustic guitar and harmonica. But the sound is complex and exciting. Incorporating the electric sound of a rock band adds depth and energy to their oft-mellow tunes.
I'm currently enjoying my third listen through their newest album, Furr. Join the Wild Mountain Nation of Blitzen Trapper - you're in good company.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
When It Rains, It Pours
Sometimes life has a way of snowballing you. It's been slowly building over the last week or so, and hit full-force today.
To say that I feel overwhelmed is a laughable understatement. I have at least 30 different projects going on at work with impossible deadlines, no free hands to help me, and an office manager who likes to hover over my shoulder and eavesdrop on every conversation, professional and personal, then provide insight as to how I should respond to overheard conversations, apparaently as a means of helping me "manage my workload."
Also, I've recently been volunteering with an excellent local nonprofit. I'm super excited about all we're doing, the mission, and upcoming events. However, like in all organizations, the majority of the work ends up going to the people who 1) show up for meetings and 2) act enthusiastically. I'm guilty on both counts and now have enough work to do to fill 8-10 hours a week, conservatively.
Then there is the economic issue. While I received a nice paycheck boost this summer, but have yet to experience any real ease in my budget from the change. It seems to me that the banking industry should be convicted of highway robbery. They have unlimited access to my meager funds and freely (and seemingly arbitrarily) extract exorbitant fees without warning.
It's not just feeling overwhelmed by having too many things to do or too many external pressures, it's also that I've been constantly reminded, excruciatingly reminded, that I am not doing what I want to be doing with my life, career-wise. As much as I complain about my job, my reaction time is getting better to this sense of entrapment. I recognize my frustration with my job and immediately do something to try and change my situation. I strongly believe that my life is a culmination of the choices I make for myself. Often the choice NOT to do something is more significant than any conscious choice I make for action. So this week I've completed a graduate school application (waiting on transcripts and letters of recommendation to submit), applied for a part-time teaching position at a local college, and made further progress on my ODC packet for the Army. My life/job will never change if I don't do something today to change it. If I sit and wait for it to change for me, in five years I'll be exactly where I am today.
To say that I feel overwhelmed is a laughable understatement. I have at least 30 different projects going on at work with impossible deadlines, no free hands to help me, and an office manager who likes to hover over my shoulder and eavesdrop on every conversation, professional and personal, then provide insight as to how I should respond to overheard conversations, apparaently as a means of helping me "manage my workload."
Also, I've recently been volunteering with an excellent local nonprofit. I'm super excited about all we're doing, the mission, and upcoming events. However, like in all organizations, the majority of the work ends up going to the people who 1) show up for meetings and 2) act enthusiastically. I'm guilty on both counts and now have enough work to do to fill 8-10 hours a week, conservatively.
Then there is the economic issue. While I received a nice paycheck boost this summer, but have yet to experience any real ease in my budget from the change. It seems to me that the banking industry should be convicted of highway robbery. They have unlimited access to my meager funds and freely (and seemingly arbitrarily) extract exorbitant fees without warning.
It's not just feeling overwhelmed by having too many things to do or too many external pressures, it's also that I've been constantly reminded, excruciatingly reminded, that I am not doing what I want to be doing with my life, career-wise. As much as I complain about my job, my reaction time is getting better to this sense of entrapment. I recognize my frustration with my job and immediately do something to try and change my situation. I strongly believe that my life is a culmination of the choices I make for myself. Often the choice NOT to do something is more significant than any conscious choice I make for action. So this week I've completed a graduate school application (waiting on transcripts and letters of recommendation to submit), applied for a part-time teaching position at a local college, and made further progress on my ODC packet for the Army. My life/job will never change if I don't do something today to change it. If I sit and wait for it to change for me, in five years I'll be exactly where I am today.
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