new look + big goof

No big changes, just a fresh and clean new look. I also just really like seeing a picture of my blog on my blog, hah.

So, for a little while now I've had this fear of buying tickets to a concert or event ahead of time and then forgetting to go when it's finally time. Well, my fear finally came true. I had written on my calendar, added to my phone calendar and committed to memory that Dr. Dog was coming on Monday the 7th. I made sure I was off and even had Rickey ask off for the show. Monday afternoon came and I wondered what time the show started so I checked the venue's website to see. Turns out Dr. Dog had already played Saturday night! Oh my gosh. I couldn't believe it, I still can't. What a terrible mistake!

If those dudes make it to your city on their tour go see them! Do it for me!

I will leave you with my all time favorite Dr. Dog song. Enjoy.

The Avett Brothers

Rickey and I went to see The Avett Brothers on Tuesday night. I'll spare you all of the details of the mix up that made this a two hour road trip instead of what I originally thought was going to be a 45 minute drive. 

This was my second time seeing The Avett Brothers and their performances are kind of mind blowing. I cannot believe the intensity and power of their voices, the beauty of the music and all of the feelings it all provokes. I really never would have expected to love the banjo as much as I do thanks to these dudes. I also wouldn't expect to ever tear up (or maybe even cry) at a concert, but they got me again there with how incredible their music is. 

They put on a really great show and played some of my favorites like 'January Wedding', 'Murder in the City' and 'At the Beach'. They're also always so well dressed and pretty nice to look at.

So really, if you've never heard them before and you think you may be interested in something with more heart, soul and beauty than you've heard before then check them out right NOW! You'll be glad you did.

I wasn't able to find any photos from the show we saw, but these ones can be found below.

1, 2 & 3

The Decemberists

It's kind of funny to me that 5 or 6 years ago I started getting really into discovering new (to me) bands and those are still the bands I love the most today. I have definitely picked up a few favorites along the way, but for the most part I've stuck with these same ones for a while now. The Decemberists are one of those old favorites! Rickey and I got to go see them last Wednesday night and it was just as wonderful as the last time I got to see them!

They played some great songs, made some funny jokes and even did TWO encores! One of which is my all-time favorite song of theirs. I am also so grateful that we are lucky enough to have RFT photographers at just about any concert, which makes it so much easier to just snatch really nice photos from their website instead of bringing along my own camera and hoping to get a few decent shots.

Who are your longtime favorite bands?

Have you guys been to any good concerts recently?

All photos from Riverfront Times.

And a review of the show.

Ben Kweller Round 2!

Yet another fantastic show put on by Ben Kweller! This time he played at The Pageant, which isn't my favorite St. Louis venue, but it is still pretty cool (except for being kind of expensive). There wasn't the biggest turn out for his set probably because 1. he was opening for Pete Yorn and not headlining 2. again, it was pretty expensive and 3. Oscar night. With all of those factors I'm sure a lot of people decided not to come out for this show. Too bad for them though! He played some great stuff all on his own and was awesome! He also always says something about St. Louie when he comes. Cute!

Since he was playing with Pete Yorn and I hadn't heard any of his music beforehand I got one of his albums a little bit ago. It was okay, but just okay. We decided to stay for his set too hoping that maybe Ben would come out and do a song or two with him, but then we decided to just take off after a few songs instead. As we walked out probably talking about how awesome the show was Rickey stops and said 'I think that was him!' We spotted him just lounging (actually laying out on a bench) in a hookah bar a couple shops down from the Pageant! So we stepped in to say hi and told him how great he was and everything for a second. I made sure we were right in thinking he wasn't going back on. And then we got hugs!

So, it was a great night. Definitely worth missing the Oscars over! They were kind of lame anyway.

Tim Kasher

Wednesday night Rickey and I braved the crazy snow and ice to go see Tim Kasher at Off Broadway. Tim Kasher, frontman of Cursive and The Good Life is one of the coolest guys around! Cursive has been my favorite band for the last 5 years (wow! that's longer than I realized!) Sophomore year of high school my best friend discovered and fell in love with Bright Eyes. I'll never forget us going to Vintage Vinyl and her picking up their cd. On the way home she was looking through the cd booklet and told me she didn't think I would like them because there were so many people in the band. Haha, weird assumption to make, right? I never understood that. But I did prove her wrong and enjoy the music of Bright Eyes. After that we decided to check out more of the music on the Saddle Creek record label. That's where I discovered Cursive! (Among others like Rilo Kiley!) And we've been in love ever since.

Before going to the show the other night I did some googling to see what his set list would be like. From all of the lists I found it looked like he'd play almost all of his new album and then either one Cursive or one Good Life song. That seemed cool, but I was hoping for more oldies. Much to my surprise he played a couple songs from both bands plus his new stuff. It was such an awesome show! 

I'm not usually into sticking around to talk to the musicians after they've played. I never know what I would say or what I would do, but it just sort of happened this time, thanks to all of the PBR's I was sipping on. I excitedly and nervously walked over to him told him I love him, he's awesome, asked why Cursive wasn't coming to St. Louis for the Domestica anniversary show and finally what happened to Gretta, the cellist (that hasn't been in the band for like 4 years! What was I thinking??!) OH! And I hugged him! It's so weird to meet someone you admire, even though I said something sort of silly I'm still glad I did it!
 

If you guys haven't heard any of his work yet I HIGHLY recommend it. 

Of course I didn't have a camera and didn't get any photos of the night, but there are some I found so you could see his cute face. 

Have you guys ever met someone you really admire? Tell me about it!

P.S. Thanks so much for the sweet words about blogging more! I'm really hoping that after the new year work will slow down and I won't have to be there quite as much meaning more time to be here.

 photo 1 & photo 2

Ben Kweller 11.11

 

 Thursday night Rickey and I went to see the wonderful Ben Kweller at Off Broadway. It was one incredible show! The last time I saw him play, which was also at Off Broadway, he played with his band, but this time it was just him. He switched between his guitar and piano. It was really neat to hear such cool stuff come from just one guy! It was the perfect venue for the show--it's so intimate and personal, the stage is probably only 2-3 feet high and he's just right there in front of you! He played almost all of the songs I was hoping for and saved my very favorite (Penny On the Train Tracks) for the final encore. It was one of my favorite shows ever!

All photos are from Riverfront Times.

BEN KWELLER!

He'll be here Thursday!!! I can't wait!

Style Icon: Volume II

 

JENNY LEWIS

She is one of the coolest ladies out there! She always looks adorable, has the most beautiful hair, one of the best voices and writes the most wonderful words! I've had the pleasure of seeing her perform (only) once, it was the best show I've ever seen! The fourth picture here is one from when she played here in St. Louis at The Pageant! P.S. How awesome is that Bob Dylan t-shirt above? After noticing that I think I need to find myself a vintage Bob Dylan Tee right away!! 

Not only is she beautiful, but she's incredible at her work. She's always doing something new and great like working with her original band, Rilo Kiley, coming out with a solo album or collaborating with other incredible artists. Working with some of the best in the business like: Elvis Costello, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, The Watson Twins, Johnathan Rice and of course the main men of Rilo Kiley!

Um, and she's dated Jake Gyllenhaal!!! 

Jenny is always looking super cute whether she's in one of her beautiful dresses, high-waisted jeans or any of her million teeny tiny bodysuits! I'll say once more, she has perfect hair!! I've ALWAYS wanted her hair, but have always been too impatient to grow it out that long. Maybe it'll happen one day.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13

Jenny & Johnny

Have you guys heard Jenny & Johnny's album?

If you haven't, check it out now!

I got it a few weeks back and haven't stopped listening to it since. It's so much fun!

PLUS Jenny Lewis is just about the coolest girl around!

I and Love and You.

I just found out that one of my favorites, The Avett Brothers will be here in St. Louis in September and cannot be more excited! Anyone who doesn't know these boys should check them out right away! They have the most heart and soul along with the most beautiful lyrics that will make you melt.

SHE & HIM

volume two comes out march 23rd!!

i can't wait!

(it is cut off and i can't get it any smaller, so go here to watch it!)