great by-products.

obviously when you go to a concert (i'm talking the smaller, more intimate venues here...not your stadium shows) you are going to see music happening before your eyes. you go to see the artists who created the music play it for you, to see how it sounds without the tricksy magic of album production. it either enhances your experience from then on when you listen to the album or it makes you sad to realize they must have hired a really great engineer.

so yes, concerts are about the music. but there are some really great by-products of going to a show that really help round out the entire experience:

by-product #1: the game of "which band member is most attractive." shallow? absolutely! but so. much. fun. part of it's fun because you're critiquing which handsome fella is the most handsome and the other part that makes it fun is that i rarely agree with my friends on who is the most attractive. i think it's a strong testament to the statement that there is someone for everyone.

by-product #2: overpaying to get a drink ($3 for a diet coke? do you realize i could get a gallon of that at micky d's for a dollar?!) to keep yourself awake and happy and on your feet. at first glance this doesn't seem like a great by-product but it sorta is. see, if i have to buy a drink to stay awake it's probably because i was up early because i have a job and that job is affording me the opportunity to go to shows and buy overpriced beverages. while everyone complains about their jobs (guilty) we often forget to be thankful we have them (guilty). yay for being a contributing member of society and supporting those musicians/venues we love so much by going to shows.

by-product #3: overheard conversations between sets. sometimes hilarious, sometimes annoying, always entertaining. the last show i was at an overheard conversation resulted in hearing a brilliant idea from a houseful of boys. the gist, once a month one roommate picks a concert and all of them go. isn't that just one of the most precious things you have ever heard? then they never have to go to a concert alone (which actually isn't terrible it's just more fun when there are people to share the experience) and they are exposed to different artists and/or styles of music that wouldn't normally make their playlist. these were my guesses for which concerts each of the four roommates would have chosen:

• boy in checked shirt: clearly this show, green river ordinance, was his pick. he was WAY excited to be there. good on ya, dude, it WAS a killer show.
• boy with clear framed glasses: i guessed that he was into math-rock but i didn't really know who fell into that category. i asked my friend, she said la dispute.
• boy in college athletic team jacket: this one was hard, i was stuck between man-rock and hip-hop but then i saw he had terrible tennis shoes so opted for man-rock. i'm guessing his pick is hinder.
• boy in button down, vest, tie: michael buble. no question. 

 the next time you go to a concert, keep your phone in your pocket and take in the whole night, i promise it will be better than scrolling through your facebook feed again.

xo

i miss it.

it's been awhile since i've been behind a merch table and in a spirit of honesty, i miss it.

i actually really like working customer service jobs (despite the fact that the pay is usually pretty crummy and sometimes you have to deal with people who are so entitled and terrible it actually makes you gag) and slinging merch is basically a customer service job. it's just for a limited amount of time and located in a 7x10 space and the wares being sold are all branded with the same band name.

otherwise it's basically like working in urban outfitters or ragstock. the clientele are typically 20-somethings in search of the perfect piece to add to their wardrobe or album collection.

i miss the interactions with random fans who are just SO EXCITED to be there. i miss people mistaking me for the wife of one of the band members. i miss getting into shows for free. i miss the way you have to pretend like you're totally cool and not starstruck at all when one (or all) of the band members join you behind the table to sign stuff. 

if you know anyone going on tour that needs a merch girl send them my way, would ya?

xo

because sometimes you just don't like a song.

in case you were unaware...we are almost halfway through march. MARCH.
where is 2014 going?! no clue.

as i reflect upon the last (almost) quarter of a year i can't help but think about some of the songs that get played on top 40 radio that i absolutely despise. the ones that i dislike so much i immediately change the channel or pop in a cd.

without further ado, here are my top 5 least favorite songs of 2014...so far...i'm sure there will be more:

*most of these came out in 2013 but didn't really hit air waves until 2014. or they are just being incredibly overplayed in 2014.

5. Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood.  i almost like this song until it gets to the chorus. then it gets drone-y and i get bored.

4. All of Me by John Legend. maybe it's because i'm not in love? but i doubt it because there are some love songs that i just think are the bees knees. i think it's just too stripped down...there isn't enough build up at any point to keep my attention.

3. Let It Go by Demi Lovato. hers is the one that's being played on radio but it's any version. i don't get the cult following that this movie and song have. it's cute but settle down, people, it's not like it's the lion king. 

2. Raging Fire by Phillip Phillips. i actually like this song as a whole but a) we all KNOW radio is going to beat it like a dead horse and b) the line "yeah, we'll live until we die" is stupid. obviously you live until you die.

1. #SELFIE by The Chainsmokers. this one is obvious and should really need no explanation.

happy friday, loves!

xo

'cause why not?

HELP.

i have a friend [he's ridiculously talented musician, an engineer, and a guy who loves to see people fulfill their dreams] who offered to record a 3-song EP for FREE for me.

why this is awesome:
-it generally costs a lot of money to record. even just 1 song.
-i know he knows what he's doing and it will sound killer.
-he loves music, i love music, you love music.

why i need help:
-i play violin [not exactly a strong lead instrument].
-i am terrible at writing melodies.
-i'm scared. playing and singing in front of people terrifies me, and for some reason i find it even more scary when it's people i know.

what i am asking for:
-someone(s) to help write some great songs.
-those people to help me record.

anyone willing to jump on this train and ride with me just to see where it goes?

xo

hold on.

there's just something about music from the 80's and early 90's that makes my heart smile.

i am guessing it makes me happy because it brings back some forgotten memories from my childhood;
like the radio being turned way up and the windows being rolled down as we drove back home from the lake with the backs of our legs sticking to the leather seats of that silver car my parents used to own.
or my dad grilling in the backyard with his little boombox at his side and me asking if i could lick the little brush he spread the bbq sauce with (i realize now that this is gross, but i still really love condiments).
or being really sad when my parents got to go to an REO Speedwagon concert and didn't take me with them.

i'm sure at the time i had no idea what half of those songs were about or if they were actually any good musically but they remind me of a simpler time in life when a year seemed to stretch on forever and you never had to worry about cars starting or paying bills because those were grown-up problems.

just last night i caught the tail-end of an episode of 'glee' (never been a fan, LOVED 'the glee project' though) before the new episode of 'new girl' came on. in those last few minutes they busted out a cover a wilson phillips' 'hold on' and i sang along like my name was carnie. oh the joy! i can't listen to that song and not
1. sing along
2. hold one hand flat to my chest and the other parallel to my head with my palm out (it's my signature i'm singing a pop ballad stance)

what songs make your heart happy? 

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