welcome to the show

there was a time in my life where i felt like a failure as a music fan. i loved music, listened to it as much as i could, learned the words to every song i loved, wrote my own lyrics, etc. but something i hadn't done enough, i thought, was go to concerts. i was too young in my mother's eyes to be dropped off alone/with friends at a concert, and she herself had no interest in seeing the shows that i did. and at the time, a lot of the shows my friends were going to [patent pending, etc..] were bands that i just wasn't into. most of the concerts i've went to, i went to after i was 18. but now i no longer feel like i'm missing out. because i keep getting to go to the concerts i want to go to, and there are so many more that i know i will see.

here's where i've been and what i thought of the show =]

1. spice girls, my very first concert. circa 1996. i don't remember much about this show, but i can assure you that i was so very excited. it was at jones beach, and, living in queens at the time, i never really got to go to the beach. jones beach was "far" for a six year old to travel. i'm sure i adored this concert, as i woke up every morning at the crack of dawn, put a cassette of Spice World into my walkman, and sang until my mother woke up.

2. 2004, evanescence/breaking benjamin/seether/3 days grace. i went to this concert mainly to see Evanescence, partly to see Seether. i had never heard of breaking benjamin, but 3dg's "i hate everything about you" had been in constant rotation on my stereo. the concert was just phenomenal. i became an instant fan of breaking benjamin. the singer was cute and their song Cold(?) was just amazing. i went with my friend emily, and our moms hung out on the beach as we watched in awe as our IDOL, amy lee, sang all of their hits and a cover of Korn's Thoughtless. it was beautiful. i will never forget that night.

3. tori amos. 2006? the beekeeper tour. went with arianna and her dad. i was so excited to be in the presence of an artist who's music i truly appreciated for its honesty, and raw passion. watching her play two, three instruments at once was wonderful. i don't think tori was feeling well that day, though. something was missing.

4. summer 2009. janelle monae/ paramore/no doubt. let's go in order of act. every time i hear a critic praise monae, i want to throw up a little bit. have they seen her live? she is absolutely awful. just terrible. just because her vocals get tweaked in the sound studio doesn't mean she is actually good in real life. i really wish i didn't catch her screeching and whining into the mic. paramore- before the show i honestly couldn't care either way about them. i liked them but i couldn't and didn't consider myself a fan. after this show, i was a fan. no freakin doubt. i cried when gwen hit the stage. the energy, the love for the fans and the music. i was just in awe of my icon. i would go to another no doubt concert in a heart beat. want to join me?

5. tegan&sara. october 2009. i got to see them at town hall in nyc. they were so cute, the venue was awesome. every seat was a great seat. they played their entire album, Sainthood from start to finish. i fell in love with sara, and with the fact that they sounded great live. 

6. LIGHTS came to nassau community college in the spring of 2010. she was so tiny, so cute, and sounded just like her cd, only better. best of all, the show was free. afterwards she took pictures and gave autographs but i didn't get to be there. i got a LIGHTS sticker from this really adorable boy. wonder where i put it!!

7. may 2010. kellie pickler/gloriana/ taylor swift. kellie pickler is, at best, annoying. i did like her song "rocks instead of rice." gloriana, i thought were nice. but taylor. ohhh taylor. the sets, the costumes, and she could actually sing live, contrary to what i've heard about her. i had so much fun watching her play even though i was amidst a sea of little girls. taylor is coming out with a new cd on october 25, 2010. can't wait!!

8. july 2010. nothing to lose. i arrived just in time for their set, and unfortunately had to leave early. but it was really awesome going to their first show. these guys are playing again, august 21st, and september 4th. make sure you check them out!! they're cute :)

9. john mayer/train, august 2010. jess and i went to PNC Bank arts center in NJ. john mayer was a guitar god as i suspected, and train was lively. unfortunately we missed most of trains set, but john mayer was a show all his own. he opened with "bigger than my body", i loved it. i would definitely go back to that venue [i would go back to all the venues mentioned {jones beach, nassau coll., town hall, pnc bank arts center, the vibe lounge, and my college}]. it was awesome because they let you bring your own food, and we sat on a sheet on the grass.

9 concerts, 17 bands. i'm going to a florence and the machine show in nyc on november 1st. i can't wait, it's going to be so amazing. i really would love to see: gaga, evanescence again, dave matthews [ i could have went to a dave show but the timing didnt work out for me unfortunately] and so many more bands. what was your favorite concert you've ever been to?

the hand that feeds

music is such a lovely thing. it can bring couples and friends together, it can make you either love or hate someone else. artists, through their lyrics and melodies, can inspire our moods, thoughts, and we look up to some of these people so much that we start to look to them for inspiration on clothing, food choices, and movie/other music choices. how many times has your favorite musician said "oh so&so has been the most influential on my career/i am really digging thisband's new album..." and you've downloaded the mentioned music right away? or how many times have you seen your favorite singer in a rad shirt and said "i have to have that." music has gotten us all through the joyous times, the rough times; the best of times, the worst of times. i know it has done so for me. my whole life i've written poetry and lyrics, and have dreamed of being in a band. i love getting on stage, i did singing lessons and recitals for many years. it's so exhilarating and magical to be up there. i would love to do so one day sharing my own words with the crowd, using my voice to inspire love, drama and sexual feelings. when i saw no doubt in concert, i actually cried. gwen has been such a force in my life. i get so many cues from her, everything she has done just feels right to me. her voice, her lyrics, her fashion, the red lipstick and bottle blonde hair. when she sang on stage that night, i just couldn't believe it. here was one of my idols, in the same general area as me. it didn't matter that i was in the nosebleed seats. that was just ... it.
music means so much to me. it's been there for me when i needed a friend. when i needed company walking to work or taking the bus. when i needed solace from a breakup or my parents' divorce. when i needed something to push me to write. when i was happy and just needed to dance.
i'm going to a Florence and the Machine show in November with one of my good friends Natalie. i'm so very pumped.
next post: concerts i've been to, concerts i hope to go to, and maybe some music recommendations. recommend me some, too :)

Margot and the Nuclear So-and-So's

are amazing.

i've listened to "the dust of reatreat" and "not animal". i know i should have listened to "animal" first but i couldnt get a hold on that until this morning. i really love their sound, i am not usually into male singers but i love the singer's voice. the lyrics are superb, the music is psychedelic and relaxing at the same time. it makes me want to lay in a grass field at sunset in a dress holding hands with a hipster boy.

in other music news, a true/slant writer claims that janelle monae is more talented than lady gaga. i do not listen to JM nor do i know much about her, but i do know that i made the unfortunate mistake of going to the no doubt/paramore 2009 concert a little too early and caught her as the opening act. she came on stage in a strange outfit, proclaimed she was an alien, and screeched into the mic in an earsplitting matter. perhaps this writer has heard her music videos/recordings but not seen her live? all i can say is, the wonderful and strange thing about humans is that we all have different tastes. in music, in movies, in foods, in drinks, in clothing, in EVERYTHING. so for every gaga lover like me, there are many gaga haters. and for every person that shops at american apparel, there are 5 that shop exclusively at hollister. some prefer vanilla, some chocolate, and some dont like either. so i dont think that we can "prove" one artist is better than another, it is all opinion.

have a musical day! and check out M&TNSAS

sleepyhead by passion pit

And you said
It was like fire around the brim
Burning solid
Burning thin the burning rim
Like stars burning holes right through the dark
Flicking fire like saltwater into my eyes
You were one inch from the edge of this bed
I drag you back a sleepyhead, sleepyhead

They couldn't think of something to say the day you burst
With all their lions and all their might and all their thirst
They crowd your bedroom like some thoughts wearing thin 
Against the walls against your rules against your skin
My beard grew down to the floor and out through the doors
Of your eyes but go in disguise like a sleepyhead, sleepyhead




passion pit's sleepyhead=pure poetry.

dog days are over

i used to have nightmares, every single night. for months straight.
i'd wake up every night at a crazy hour, crying, whimpering, or yelling.
so i decided to transfer that into a novel. which became a short story. which is growing into a novel.
but now the nightmares are gone. and i only remember clips of them, like a movie i know i saw long ago but can't quite recall.

so i'm sitting here listening to the florence and the machine album, which is the unofficial soundtrack for my story. and wishing my local library had a larger selection of books on the history of native americans. anyone know of a good NA history book i should read? i am taking a class on their history next semester but i dont want to wait that long.

taylor swift concer 2010

tonight was just... beyond comprehension.
the anticipation, the expectations, Taylor exceeded them all.
the chanting, the screaming, the sparkly dresses.
the medleys, the addition of justin timberlake's "what goes around..." to "you're not sorry."
the clips, the sets, taylor hugging the audience members and giving away her silver guitar.
telling her stories, singing the songs she wrote in her bedroom when she was so young.
teetering between sexy and sweet.
the drums. the heat. taylor crying and the look on her face.
the insatiable need fed, and then i was left hungry for more.
the ONLY thing missing was the new songs she added to fearless.

"With your face and the beautiful eyes
And the conversation with the little white lies
And the faded picture of a beautiful night
You carry me from your car to the stairs
And I broke down crying, was she worth this mess?
After everything and that little black dress
After everything I must confess, I need you"

four twenty.

by the way, "happy 4-20." i won't be celebrating this year, or ever. not because i'm opposed to marijuana, but because i think it would be a lot easier to get arrested on this day of all days. obviously the police know what 4/20 is.

i wish they sold these.

ps- i bought instant star's alexz johnson's new album, Voodoo on itunes today [had a gift card] and i am not disappointed. i love her voice, its like honey on toast. she's beautiful, and has great style fashion wise and musically. it's taken forever for her new music to come out, so i've been waiting so long! give her a listen :)

LIGHTS

So two days ago, LIGHTS came to my college to sing her songs from The Listening, her album that just came out this fall. She was absolutely gorgeous, so tiny in person, and she was so sweet to us. Not in a fake, saccharine way, but in a genuine way. She laughed with us, talked to us, and sang for about an hour.
Her voice was just like on the record, I knew she'd be wonderful!  I unfortunately didn't get to meet her, I had to run to my math class. But a friend grabbed me her autograph. I'm kind of jealous though, I wish I was the one who got to meet her and say hello! Nonetheless, she saved the day from being a boring, nothing day to being a day full of dancing, free pizza, and good music! also, eye candy ;)

LIGHTS

LIGHTS is coming to nassau community college to do a free concert for the students. i am beyond excited, and i might have already mentioned this.... but it deserves another mention :) I am in love with this girl. "Ice" has been stuck in my head all day.. I hope she plays "Ice," "February Air," "The Listening," and "Pretend." i hope she plays every song she has...

**i do not own this picture**

"I'm looking at you looking at me, what can I do but say sorry
It's a little late but you know I just want you to be happy.
What I got to say to make you let me get away with it this time.
I know you're upset and that you're happy just to sit and hate me,
But i'll make a bet that you'll be better to forget about me,
Even better yet I'll let a little light melt the ice, ice baby!" 

santeria

i never used to listen. i'd talk, and talk and talk, but i didn't listen. i'd spend whole conversations waiting and itching and jumping out of my skin just to turn it around to where i'm the one talking. but over the years i realized i was missing out on a lot. i was missing out on my friends thoughts, feelings, and opinions. i was missing out on the "point" of the conversations i was having. i didnt observe anyone or anything.
but now, i spend my life observing. i realized i've made better connections lately with my friends and relatives. i became better at judging the character of my acquaintances, which has resulted in me having better friends. i am more interested in other people's opinions, even if they don't mesh with mine.

{{one of the great things about being observational is knowing exactly who is trying to pull one over on you. i'm onto you, and i know who you are.}}

today i discovered Aimee Allen. her music is soothing and i love her voice. i feel her optimism vibrating in my skin. i also bought "How to be an Explorer of the World" by keri smith. i can't wait for it to arrive. i hope this evening finds everyone well; my friend Natalie is leaving tomorrow to go to florida for seven months. i'm going to miss her so much. even though i don't see her everyday, she has a place in my heart and its so sad that i cant text her to get lunch or go to her house with other friends. i hope natalie has a safe trip and an amazing experience at disney. i know she will. and i also know that while she's there, she's going to touch the lives of others. <3 bye nat, i love you. see you in 7 months!

i am in love with samantha shorey's blog, "unconventionally beautiful." she recently redesigned it and it looks great. i love how she incorporates the books shes reading into her blog, with quotes and all. she made me want to add about 10 new books to the list. she talks about art, signs [that something is going to happen], art, fashion, feminism, film... the list goes on and on and i love it all. i'm trying to redesign my blog and although i'm not going to copy hers (hers is original and i want to be true to myself] i hope my blog can be half as pretty and organized as hers.

well, some things are new in my life. i got 2 new headbands, one braided metallic silver. i love it. and a black one. i have a new beatles sweatshirt, and a cute little outfit to wear to nat and airens parties as well as all throughout the spring. also some new:

MUSIC:

the new train cd, anddd REM's "automatic for the people

LIBRARY BOOKS:

-Change of Heart (jodi picoult)... im finishing this one by tomorrow. i love it.

-"going bovine" [libba bray]... this one's for book club

-burned [ellen hopkins]

-blonde [joyce carol oates]... a novel based on true events and marilyn monroe

-wuthering high [cara lockwood]...an mtv book, quick read

-crank [ellen hopkins]... arianna's been telling me to read this since like the 7th grade

-the early journals of anais nin... i cant wait

-she's a rebel: the history of women in rock and roll [gaar]

-mental floss presents: forbidden knowledge : a wickedly smart guide to history's naughtiest bits

-valencia- michelle tea

pandora playlist:yeah yeah yeahs

i;m writing a short story about a disillusioned young woman, considering making a collage to go with it, and listening to music: pandora made this awesome playlist based on the music of the "yeah yeah yeahs" for me and i want to remember it..

heads will roll-yeah yeah yeahs

reptillia- the strokes

world at large- modest mouse

L.E.S artistes- santogold

honeybear-yeahyeahyeahs

waiting line-zero 7

slow hands-interpol

combat baby- metric

back in your head- tegan and sara

the ocean breathes salty- modest mouse

warrior-yeah yeah yeahs

this modern love- bloc party

the denial twist- the white stripes

stop-the strokes

wave of mutilation- pixies

creep (acoustic)-radiohead

the modern age- the strokes

float on-modest mouse

lights out- santogold

shadowplay- the killers

mushaboom-feist

rebelliom- the arcade fire

twilight galaxy- metric

there there-radiohead

why do i lose every contest i enter?

currently reading:

*"bust" and "instyle" magazines with alia shawkat/ ellen page and taylor swift respectively.

* the time travelers wife by audrey niffenegger

last night i checked out a book called "music lust" and it was ok... it was supposed to tell you what kind of music to listen to depending on your moods and shit but instead it told me nothing. it made me decided to download/borrow cds by: air, edith piaf, siouxsie and the banshees, prince, sugarcubes, sigur rios, and the lovemongers. it reminded me to listen to more cranberries, bjork, joan jett, patti smith, queen, etc.

i also checked out a book called "how beautiful the ordinary," a compilation of writing by many different artists. it was fictional, and told stories about being glbtq. i read 3 stories.

this is what i wrote in my review on goodreads: "i chose to read 3 stories from this collection. the book features stories (fiction) from twelve popular authors on being glbtq. i read stories by: david levithan, francesca lia block, and julie anne peters. i've read more than one book by each before. although i love david's writing normally, i just couldn't get into his story. i'm still confused as to what it's about. block's story is told through blog entries and emails, and tells the story of a girl who has always identified as straight falling in love with a girl who is in the process of becoming a boy. not her best work but i liked it all the same. the best story for me was peters' story about two lesbians' "first time" with each other and in general. the best way i can describe the writing style was: there were two columns and each was assigned to one of the girls. the story was sensual, truthful, and sexy. loved it"

i just downloaded john mayer's new cd, "battle studies." supposedly the first song, 'heartbreak warfare" is about jennifer aniston. it's a good song. he's talented even though he is very annoying. him and kanye need to stick to music and shut their mouths at all other times.

i'm also working on a new story, and trying to find time to breathe and not kill myself at school.

on directing

today, my phone decided to stop working. i'm pretty sure all technology is out to get me. i'm going to start looking behind me when i walk. i feel a revolt is surely headed my way. right now i'm waiting to be called by jody, if she can/wants to hang out. otherwise i am here bored and dying. i'm dramatic, i know. but sometimes boredom really does feel like dying. admit it.

two lovely things happened today...

1)) i was reading a few kristen stewart interviews (i love her. even if you don't). and i got an inspiration for a story (fictional) that i am currently in the process of writing, as of... like an hour ago.

2)) i got a hold of the fame:monster by lady gaga and it's brilliant :)

also i'm really upset by something that happened today. i'm tired of people using their away messages to talk about me, or something to do with me. talk to me directly, even if its a text message. you have no idea what's really going on.

nylong november issue

dear nylon magazine.

although i adore you,

you little trendy hipster mag, you,

i do feel the need to correct you about something....

you did a little feature on tegan & sara where they picked songs for a "mixtape"

for us to download and you wrote that SAINTHOOD was their SOPHOMORE album. meaning second. does that mean THE CON came first?

what about: this business of art? if it was you? under feet like ours? so jealous?

oh, thats right.

i understand that they are only now gaining popularity, but i thought if you were going to make a mistake like that, you'd at least assume it was their THIRD album. so jealous isnt that obscure.

ok, well nice talking to you.

Halloween weekend 2009

yesterday was the kickoff of the holidays for me. i absolutely adore halloween. of course i love the candy, and the kids in costumes are absolutely adorable. but what i love most of all is that it is the one night that i don;t feel alone in believing in all of the creatures and odd stories and legends i believe in. although last night was uneventful for me in many ways, i take comfort knowing Halloween has been around and will be around for many more years.

friday night was great... jody and i went to visit my grandma for a little while and then subway-ed it in to the city to see TEGAN&SARA at town hall. we had tickets for different seats, but most people didn't show up for the opening act, so we sat together anyway. finally, the woman who's seat i was sitting in came, but she ended up trading with me. i got to sit with jody AND be closer to the stage than originally thought. BUT every seat in the house seemed to be a good one. town hall is a beautiful venue. i'd definitely see a concert there again.

T&S were amazing. they sounded better than they do on cd. they played all of Sainthood and a bunch of other songs too, including WALKING WITH A GHOST, CALL IT OFF, and SPEAK SLOW. they were funny and pleasant. wish i could say the same of some of the audience members.

after the concert, we went back to my grandma's via subway, picked up the car and talked to one of her friends for a little while before heading back to the island to PEE!! and hang out. i got home late and stayed outside til around 4. i tried to look up the woman who gave me her seat, her name was on the ticket but i couldnt find her facebook. thank you if you're out there. who knows, maybe you will find this post.

thanks for a great night jody :)

come together

in order to be relevant and to change you, the right music has to come along at the right time. when i was younger, i fell in love with Liz Phair. not the idie rock liz, the pop liz. i didn't know any better. i thought this is how she always was. my friend bought me a cd for my sweet 16. it was "Exile in Guyville"... liz's first actual cd. and i absolutely hated it. she sang in a deadpan voice about... NOTHING it seemed. it was awful. and then, i got into Sarra Manning books. she is a british author who writes young adult and adult novels. i read Pretty Things; at the start of each chapter there are song lyrics. and there, i read this:

your face reminds me of a flower/

kind of like you're underwater/

hair's too long and in your eyes/

your lips a perfect suck-me size

and guess who wrote/sang this? LIZ. guess what album? GUYVILLE. i was hooked. i listened to the whole album over and over and its still one of my favorites. it means so so much to me.

all my life, i have hated the beatles. all you need is love? all i need is earplugs. but now, my eyes have been opened to them. my rock and roll professor, who i sometimes hate, introduced me to the beatles in the most magnificent way. and then Jody told me the most awesome stuff about them. now i am waiting to get their cds from the library and a few books on them as well. good stuff!!

random musings 2.

i miss the Postal Service. they should really come out with a new album right about now... death cab for cutie is alright but i am more of a Postal Service girl. I like Owl City, but they are a complete rip off of PS. so much so that he doesn't sound authentic. i don't expect him to create a whole new genre, but i believe that one should draw from many inspirations.

secondly, i am wondering if i should re-do my myspace that i dont even use... and make it into more of an author's space? as in make it professional and have its sole purpose be to promote my writing? and then i will friend random people and hope it will help me get my work out there.

thoughts?

NEW MUSIC

i am very excited... NOVEMBER 23rd or 24th ( the press release says 23rd, but cds almost always come out on tuesdays aka the 24th), there will be new LADY GAGA and RIHANNA.

i think that i will be in music heaven that day. hopefully Rihanna will deliver. I believe she will.... GAGA better be good as well. their music will determine my mood for at least a week after i get the albums... so pray they are both good. :)

BRAND NEW EYES

NEW PARAMORE TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 29!!!!

i love love love BRAND NEW EYES. although my favorite paramore song is still MISERY BUSINESS, i am falling for all of the new songs. Hayley Williams shows off some new sides of her voice and writes some deeper lyrics. i think this album has a more *personal* feel. like Hayley is your friend, sleeping over and telling you about what's been bugging her lately. even if you aren't a huge fan of PARAMORE's older work, you should still give BRAND NEW EYES a shot... you won't be disappointed.