I'll Be Holding All the Tickets

Hey Guys.
Little disheartened after my epic post about the music of the year... I hope that many of you silently appreciated it and maybe found some new stuff to check out. This week I thought I'd share a little gem. And a little knowledge. Apparently, it's pronounced Bon eevair - NOT Bon I-Vur like I've been saying (on the radio no less) for ever. This song might bring a tear to your eye.


Not much to say right now except there has been quite a bit of music binging going on around here. While some painful blisters (from flats, believe it or not. That'll teach me to try to wear shoes that are just simply not the correct size) are keeping me from my running, I am compensating with some brandspankingnew LPs. And while my marathon man is out running his 10 miler right now, I'll write you a blog abot it.
My man got me this beaut for xmas, but it took its sweet time arriving. It just got here this week.

Well worth the wait. Matter of fact, this is what I am listening to right now, not my boneevair I also just purchased on vinyl.

Psst - I heard he's got a new one coming out very, very soon. Pass it on.
Lastly, I finally purchased this album, which was on my best 2010 list. I feel that if I like it that much, it's crazy to keep listening to it on Grooveshark. Plus I really eat up these marketing gimmicks. IT COMES WITH STICKERS PEOPLE!

 And I even got some used records, which is not my forte, I have to admit. Some Rolling Stones and Beatles stuff. And, you guys, the Eugene Record Convention isn't even until NEXT week! Yikes. I was trying to figure out where all the money is going all time. It's records. Lunch and records. I am going to try to withdraw cash before the convention and set that as my limit (undecided amount right now). But, as my man says, what if you find a gem? Well, then I will get it, right? They take cards, I'm sure.

BUT, back to the "tickets" referenced in the title - we are even more gluttonous with live music this month. WEEN is in 5 days. I have never been to the Crystal Ballroom. And we are staying at this cool (seeming) hotel the Mark Spencer, which let's you name your own price. I'll report back. I'm only slightly nervous. I'll be the crazy one yelling OOH LA VA!

We are waiting on word if we win the lottery for free "dj" tickets for a plethora of WOW Hall shows coming up. Ra Ra Riot, Yo La Tengo, Asylum Street Spankers.....
Others we couldn't leave to chance. So we have the tickets in our hot little hands for Cold War Kids and Ryan Bingham.

On a related note. We will not be going to Coachella. Ally, I am sorry you had to hear the bad news like this. It's just crazy! The hotels around there are raising nightly prices to like $500 a night during the festival, it's even more insane than the actual lineup. After the "mice in the campground" incident of 2010, we have been a bit soured on the camping at festivals. My man said he would require the VIP package. Sweet, only $700 additional. Sasquatch isn't looking too likely either, with the Foo Fighters as headliners. We shall see. The lineup is released in early Feb. Maybe just 1 or 2 days?

So, yeah, pretty much the excitement around here is musical. Stay tuned!

I Wanna Start Doing My Own Stunts...

Hey Guys.
Thank all you friends for reading my blog in 2010. I hope all my fellow music lovers, movie lovers, vegans, runners, Oregonians, displaced Montanans, recovered Southerners, New Englanders by birthright, lazy yoga wannabes, teachers, students, and dog lovers/haters have enjoyed it so far. Here's to 2011.
Here's my New Year's Eve.

And....

Sunny: The sweet, sweet trash episode 

My man and I talked about how the last year we were in Missoula for new years (2008-9), we went to three parties. Then headed downtown to hop around to see the rest of the folks.

This year we just saw each other. And it was nice too. 

2010 was a lot of things for me:
Finished my first year as PhD student. Only 4ish to go!
First full calendar year as a vegan.

What would I do without a binge from Cornbread Cafe?

My actual last meal of 2010. 

First full year with Floyd dog.

Got my radio show.

It's serious business in the studio. You know this. 

First calendar year in OR.

It's all about the rainbows. 

And the Fair.

And the Crater Lake.

I got married.

Went to Greece.

We also went to some shows. I have never seen so much music in a 365 day period.
Ween
Dave Rawlings Machine
Local Natives
Dr. Dog
Spoon
New Pornographers
Cracker
Arcade Fire
YACHT
Vampire Weekend
Band of Horses
Kid Cudi
Dirty Projectors
Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeroes
Tallest Man on Earth
Mumford & Sons
The National
ps - those sasquatch tix were worth every penny and every foregone shower.

But you know all this - you read the blog! Or, more than likely, you know me personally.
So this is going to be a year in music post. Probably there will be some sort of book and movie post forthcoming. Some of this music I have talked about already on here. And I plan to shamelessly promote this blog on the fan pages of these bands. And feel free to share with other music lovers. It would sure be cool for other people to read this.
My own top ten list Best of 2010.
First: Honorable mentions.
Breathe Owl Breathe - Magic Central. I love this guy's voice. A lot.
The National - High Violet. I can't tell you why I don't put this on my list official. I think it has to do with the SLOW BURN that is the National. I simply haven't listened to it enough yet. I love Boxer with all my heart, and this album definitely has the same vibe, gloomy/lovely. I bet next year I'll love this one more than at least 6 of my top teners.
Ryan Bingham & Dead Horses - Junky Star

This was probably my favorite song of the whole year. The only reason it didn't make the official list is because I just got the LP yesterday. I had been listening to it on Grooveshark only (we don't have this one at KWVA). On first listening straight through the whole album is fantastic. I read a review somewhere that Ryan Bingham sings like Steve Earle's dad. I wish I came up with that. But for real, how is this guy younger than me?! Old soul. "I'd rather lay down in a pine box..." We're going to see him next month at WOW (aforementioned bathroom-lacking-venue down the street). Really? The guy won a effing academy award last year for best song and he's playing a 300 capacity gymnasium? I'll take it!
**EDIT when my man got home, he was trying to think up what my top ten list would be before he took a look at the blog. That reminded me to include another honorable mention, specifically Maps & Atlases - Perch Patchwork, who I have presented on here before. I heard this album playing at the coolest indie cd store in Florida on vacation and I was so excited that other people like M&A too. I might even give them the #11 slot (if there had been one).

Now for the countdown:
10. The Books - The Way Out

"Collage music" I LOVED this album. It was on rotation and it just grew and grew on me until I was obsessed. There is a lot of different stuff on the album but it's all good. This song is the most "pleasing" to me, but some of the sampling stuff on there with dialog is really gorgeous too.

9. Budos Band - III
Bring on the Funk!
What's not to love about a gaggle of white dudes funking it up? Nothing. ps - let this one buffer up first.

 8. New Pornographers - Together.

Happy album. I was waiting for this one. I love anticipating an album and having it LIVE UP TO IT. (see: Arcade Fire The Suburbs). I love NP because they don't seem to take themselves too seriously and just write some beautiful pop songs.

7. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
I thought I'd give you the title track. Even though the whole thing is just beautiful. When I play anything from this album I ALWAYS get at least one call asking about it.

And when I saw him this year he covered Graceland. Love.

6. Megafaun - Heretofore EP

Megafaun - "Bonnie's Song" from Spencer Wells on Vimeo.

Is it cheating to put an EP on your best of list? You tell me. My favorite is Volunteers from this album, but I have already posted in on here, so I thought I'd give you another taste. I love a trio of bearded Southerners.

5. Vampire Weekend - Contra
I almost forgot them because this album came out in January.

One of the best shows I saw in a year chock full of great shows. Going to see a show and loving the band even more afterwards is just how it's supposed to work right? And it did.
When it doesn't go that way, it's such a bummer. I am looking at you, Band of Horses.
Why did I not like the BoH show? I don't know. It was awesome. But I had never seen a pic of the guys in the band before, and I think after seeing them and what they look like it just kind of made the new album (infinite arms) sound a bit pusswua.  Anyway, this is about VW putting on such a great show that it made me love Contra EVEN more. Thanks guys!

4. Cotton Jones - Tall Hours in the Glowstream

This married couple has had heavy rotation at home. Isn't that counter on iTunes startling sometimes? I'm like how could I have listened to this song 42 times?
Love the guy singing. Related to Ryan Bingham, my man has a theory that the hippest thing of all is to try to sound like you are an old hobo while you are really just 30. I'm buying it. Cotton Jones to me is just old-timey enough. I don't care they are really as old as they sound. I love them.

3. Bear Hands - Burning Bush Supper Club


Not the best visuals at first on this video, but I promise it focuses eventually.
Speaking of the iTunes counter... nonstop. I wake up thinking about this album sometimes. So catchy. So indie. So I hope the come here soon. I might start a facebook stalking campaign because that has been so effective for me in the past.

2. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

I had the most trouble picking a song from this album because the WHOLE thing is amazing. There are two singers, both incredible imo. Plus it sure doesn't hurt that I can pretend that it is Billy Crudup and Charlie Day singing to me, right?

And no surprises here, my #1 is Arcade Fire The Suburbs.
Easiest choice all year.
Masterpiece.
I'll post the Spike Jones short film because I think it's very interesting and I don't really get it. Comments?


Comments about any of these choices are appreciated!

So anyway, thanks for a fantastic year. Everyone.
Much love.