BTW, the lead guitarist, Kenta (aka coolest asian guy around) ripped it on the guitar. And you can't touch the guy's style...his crochet jacket is still the shit.
Found myself amidst a growing love for musically-inclined redheads. Totally digging Elly Jackson's androgynous neo-pop style. It's Tilda Swinton at 21 raiding David Bowie's closet & stealing Jimmy Neutron's spectacular quiff. There's an intriguing coolness to her cartoonish style - an amused swagger, perhaps. And my roommate can attest to this, ever since my buddy M introduced me to the skream remix, I've had "In for the Kill" on repeat.
Belgian's importing some delicious little reggae-soul in the form of Selah Sue, a 20 year old singer/songwriter wielding an acoustic guitar & passionate, raspy vocals.
When: Friday, All Hallow's Eve's...Eve
Where: Winston's, OB
This 4-piece funk/rock/jam band, fresh back from a Nippon tour (which scores automatic points), killed it at Winston's. Dig the guitarist's flowing mane and crocheted jacket.
You and I, we're not tied to the ground
Not falling but rising like rolling around
Eyes closed above the rooftops
Eyes closed, we're gonna spin through the stars
Our arms wide as the sky
We gonna ride the blue all the way to the end of the world
To the end of the world
Oh, and when the kids are old enough
We're gonna teach them to fly...
Music, always bringing people from all walks of life together - moving, inspiring, connecting them. Such a fan of DMB and totally loving the video for this song, "You and Me", off their newest album, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. Check out the video HERE.
Classic all-American rock'n'roll reminiscent of the 70's mixing it up with some modern girl edge. Ms. Grace Potter, a musical force who rocks it out on a Hammond B3 organ (among other instruments), fronts this Vermont-based blues/rock jam band. Her raspy, soulful voice rings clear and defiant. The band's toured with such rock'n'roll acts as Gov't Mule and The Black Crowes. And I'm just totally diggin their vibe. Trackin these guys for sure because from what I've seen, I'm guessing their pretty incredible live. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, ladies and gentlemen. Check'em out:
MJ's the shit. Just can't mess with the guy. Often imitated, never duplicated-Michael Jackson is, and always will be, THE King of Pop. And to this day, no one even comes closing to nabbing the "Prince of Pop" title. Musically, one of the greatest innovators, fusing rock & soul into one incredibly distinct sound. His choreography was sexual and raw, but so smooth and so uniquely him. And don't get me started on his style. It was ALL about the details-from the infamous embellished glove, to the perfectly dipped fedora, the red motorcycle jacket, the motorcycle pants, the layers of belts...probably, hands down, one of the sickest closets to raid.
And then there's the countless good times I've had jammin' out to classic MJ. I remember spending every recess in 1st grade choreographing a dance routine to "Black or White". I remember watching the kids perfomring "Heal the World" during the Superbowl. Dance recitals. Freeing Willy. Shufflin' to the Jackson 5. Nearly two decades of rockin & movin with friends in the car-PYT, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, Thriller, The Way You Make Me Feel, They Don't Care About Us, Remember the Time...the list goes on and on, every single song sparking memory after memory.
MJ is legendary.
His soul will forever thrive through his music - music that has changed the world too greatly to ever die or be forgotten.
a quick little top5 list - the songs i'm currently listening to on repeat.
in no particular order:
1) When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin 2) Change Gonna Come - Lauryn Hill (cover) 3) Overlap - Ani DiFranco this version freakn smolders. i'm talkin the "lingering electric energy on a still, hot summer night" type of heat. the nice...and...slow kind.
4) Summertime - Santeria 5) Give Me One Reason to Stay Here - Tracy Chapman
My buddy, J, shared this video with me via email a little while back and, as she promised, it moved & inspired me. So, now i'm sharing it with you. Released by the Playing for Change Foundation, an organization that provides resources to musicians and communities all over the world, in their documentary film titled "Peace Through Music", "Stand by Me" highlights the transformative power and universally fundamental quality of music. Music is an amazing and powerful tool, soaring above country lines and making global moves for a better, more peaceful world. At the end of the day, we are all merely neighbors, we are all human beings, residing on this one planet just trying to live a happy life.
Did a Petites' event for Macy's SF with Keylee & Style Studio on Saturday. Went well. Super laid back, but the audience was so enthusiastic about the show! Afterwards, met up with lil' sis, her beau, and their friend at the Oyster Fest over at Fort Mason (only a 3 mi. walk from Union Square). Mozied on over there and spent the next few hours sprawled out on a grassy hill, soaking up that delicious sun, listening to Michael Franti & Spearhead play live, with my stomach happy full on fresh deep-fried oysters, empanadas, and saltwater taffy.
10.4.08 Hardly.Strictly.Bluegrass Festival @ Golden Gate Park Admission: Free (just how i like it.)
After completing my first solo Macy's event, I reward myself with something that always makes me smile...free music. Now, I'm not a big bluegrass fan but I decide to head out to Golden Gate Park to check out the Hardly.Strictly.Bluegrass Festival because 1) it's free and 2) i've never really given bluegrass a chance, and what better way to educate myself on the genre than to completey envelope myself in it? I decide to walk it because google maps informs me the 4 mi. distance should only take about an hour (which is only 20 min. more than taking a bus) and its a gorgeous day, so i'm actually looking forward to walking. Yeah, thanks google for failing to mention its a steep incline both ways and its actually a 6 mi. hike, not 4.
here's the route i took: So my pleasant walk becomes a half marathon. splendid. but, worth it. Several main stages are nestled in tree-lined meadows. The main walkway is lined with local bluegrass bands-elderly couples with a washboard and fiddle, teenagers with spoons...
2 bands, however, make my ridiculous journey worth it. The first, an SF street band called The Ferocious Few, rock out their little sidewalk corner. here's a little of taste:
as for the second band, the Global Drum Project, well...let me paint this picture for you: the stage is illuminated by hundreds, thousands of xmas lights, with the sun setting behind it, casting a rosy haze over the entire meadow. drum beats pound the air-african, indian, latin infusions with a distinct bluegrass sound. kettle corn. it's incredible. maybe it's the exhaustion, maybe it's the sugar rush-either way, it was an experience that'll resonate with me for a very long time. consider me a strictly bluegrass festival fan. who knew?
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