Blogging ain't too bad

I'm well aware that I'm probably the only one who reads this blog. But I have to admit. I'm enjoying this. I feel like I have a responsibility to do something I enjoy. I'm moving this week to St. George Utah one of my biggest reservations is that I'm pretty sure there won't be any venues like the one I attended last week. I'm missing the Twilight Festival (Nothing to do with Vampires). It saddens me. I know Vegas is only 90 miles away, and I'm praying to the gods of music that the bands I love will stop there from time to time.

CONCERT REVIEW!

This feels a little delayed but in my defense. I'm trying to getting
everything ready for my move this week. Luckily, I remember it like it
was last night. My first impression as I stood outside in line was not
a good one. I was surrounded by underweight hispty looking guys and
slutty looking teenage girls. I couldn't help but wonder..."Is this
really who I share my musical taste with? I could eat half these
kids." When the be-bearded be-tattooed bouncer let us in I found the
venue to be what I hoped for, an industrial, open space where no
matter where you are, you'll get a great show. Around 7:30 the opening
band got on stage and put on a good show. Who was it? What were they
singing about?I don't know. 2nd band. Same thing. Both good. But I was
here for PTM and I had to wait 3.5 hours for them. I'll admit, I'm new
to the concert scene so I don't know if this is par. BUT as soon as
Portugal. The Man took the stage I was so glad I came. This band
exploded into life from first song to last. I read somewhere that the
band's abnormal namesake is derived from an attempt to create a larger
than life persona. Portugal. The Man himself. Someone bigger than
the collective members of the band itself. Well Portugal was present
and rocking that night. On their tightly produced albums they sound
great, and I've even mentioned this on my previous review, but I said
they are great background music. Now, I feel bad for having written
such words. The band shucked whatever calmness that gave me such
opinion and rocked. I mean rock and roll. I mean forget your problems,
your job, your money and dance! Maybe this is how all concerts work
but the music seemed so all engrossing and important right then.
During 1989 we (the crowd) yelled and swayed and some cried. During
People Say we jumped and fist pumped and yelled. During Dead Dog we
almost drowned out the music. As I'm sitting here writing this I wish
they were playing again tonight. I'd go right now. All in all let me
sum this up. When you listen to Portugal. The Man. LISTEN TO THEM! Let
them carry you away with their unique blend of music. And try to
imagine the embodiment of the superhuman they try to create. And if
they ever show up in your town. GO! and get as close to the stage as
you can. Rock and roll everyone. Til' next time.

Portugal. The Man tonight! I'm in line. There are tons of hipsters. They can't catch one just bobbled a redbull thrown at him and looked amazed that someone would toss it to him. But I'm excited despite.

Quick note. Sometimes a video makes a song 10x better. I don't watch a lot of music videos since 8th grade but I stumbled on "I Say Fever" by Ramona Falls. A song I love, and a video that freaks me out, but in a way that gives the song depth. Watch it. 

Portugal the Man

First off...Have you seen this cover art? I love it! A big green sea
monster hefting baby in front of a barn. Moving on to the tunes. There
a couple bands that make excellent life soundtracks, and I believe
that Portugal The Man is one of those bands. Their music isn't all
engrossing, attention dominating, or body controlling. I've heard
people say that catchy tunes make them want to get up and dance. Not
the case here. PTM won't make you want to dance. But doing just about
anything will make you want to listen to PTM. I listened to them while
cooking, driving, eating, working, painting, and every experience was
enhanced by the rhythmic, complex beats of songs like Dead Dog and All
My People. There are two specific things this band does that I love.
First is the mixture of electronica and distorted, tangible
Instruments. The healthy dose of the latter separates them from
similar psych rock bands like MGMT. 2nd is the sometimes near-
falsetto, always awesome singing voice of frontman John Gourley. I've
always thought it takes a unique aspect like that to separate a band
from the masses.

SO! In short...PORTUGAL THE MAN. Hard to dance to, A little hard to
sing to, but amazing to chill to. Try mixing them in with your daily
routine and witness as your routine suddenly becomes twice as cool.
Concert going down the 23rd. I'm stoked and you'll hear about it later.

Girls don't listen to music like boys do. One of my favorite songs of the last couple years is Electric Feel by MGMT. I have no idea what it's about. But I feel like it changes my life everytime I hear it. Girls, on the other hand are lyrics focused. They like songs (generally) because the artist is singing to them and they connect to what he/she is saying. The point is...Portugal The Man is coming to The Venue on the 23rd. I love those guys and listen to them often, but don't know any of the words to their songs. That's going to have to change because I plan on attending and I don't want to be the only guy there not feeling the familiarity of hearing the songs you've sung so many times in private being performed right in front of you. Reviews of PTM to follow... 

THE BLACK KEYS

It's raining here in Orem. I'm alone. I'm miserable. My face hurts. My
heart hurts. This has been the longest week of my entire life. Things
are never going to be the same. Who in this entire world could
empathize? Wait? What's that Black Keys? You know my pain? You'll
console me while I sit alone on my porch at 1 in the morning?
Why...thank you.

I'm listnening to the album Brothers by the Black Keys. Their claim to
fame is Rubber Factory released in 2004 . But there's nothing wrong
with going backwards. Star Wars did it.

The tunes are sick. They are messy, distorted, painful and I love
every one on the album. These 2 white guys have as much angst pouring
through their music as any blues artist walking the streets in still
damp French Quarter. They wail of love lost and love betrayed and in
doing so maybe capture love's essence better than most. The Black
Keys...band of the moment for Cale, because life sometimes life hits
those little black keys.