Kick Drum, High Hat

Happy Summer guys! It's real summer for me now that my class is over, grades were submitted and I only had one student complain! That is easily the least complaining I have ever had. It was a fun class, I think that Marcom might be my favorite class to teach.

So I have already posted a video for this song here in the past. MUCH different version, but still completely radical.



This was my introduction to Lissie, who sadly does not tend to live up to the bad-ass-ness displayed above. It's just such a great summer song I felt like giving you another version. If you like this one and you don't know the original, definitely check it out. Interestingly - I looked at the old blog and the Kid Cudi version had been viewed 9 million times when I first linked it, now it's up to TWENTY NINE million... Are we here at Golden Pigeon at least partially responsible? I like to think so. Nice work guys!

Stay tuned for more music coming soon...
We have one show a month coming up - Bon Iver in Sept (and maybe Pretty Lights if we can swing free tickets. Or is it worth it to pay, what do you guys think? I don't like to go to shows that make me feel at least a decade older than the normal attender), Head and the Heart and Thao and the Get Down Stay Down in October and We Were Promised Jetpacks and Bear Hands in November.

Be happy your freezer is working 'cause mine's not. I think my man really missed me when I was in FL last week because 1) our freezer broke 2) he forgot his dentist appt and 3) he got a ticket for talking on the cell phone while driving (and guess who he was talking to?). Normally, my man does not cook at all while I am away, but this time I encouraged him to try to eat what was in the freezer quickly so he was eating A LOT of vegan meatballs.

Maybe I will do a cooking post soon, yes? This week I will be making baked chimichangas (which I like to refer to as chimi-CHANGE-as from my days working at a Mexican restaurant in Tennessee. The Southern folks strangely do not have a grasp on Spanish pronunciations. I loved when people ordered Tecate - said Ta-KATE. Anyway that is a whole nother post), "chicken" piccata  and "chicken" marsala. Is there any interest in veganized versions of these recipes? My dear parents are doing meatless Mondays and I *think* I convinced them to make it vegan Mondays. I challenge you lovely readers to do the same. The piccata is amazing.

Fdog was happy to see me too. We are taking a anniversary trip to Cannon Beach in a couple weeks. You all know how Floyd loves the beach.

I can't believe it's been a year already since the wedding. I am happy to report that contrary to our fears (due to the fact that we never received a copy of the marriage certificate), we are indeed officially married. I called the city and checked on it this morning. Apparently, they don't send out certificates unless you pay $7 for the "decorative" version. And, as you all know, I am cheap so I did not opt to pay for that when we picked up the license. So it turns out that our friend WAS certified to marry us! And the paperwork did reach the city! It's kind of too bad, because I was thinking about having you all come back out to have another party for us all over again!

Stay tuned and be excellent to each other.
xo Pigeon

Every Weekend, My Car Goes....

 Something about the summer always makes me want to take road trips.
And something about this song makes me feel like I'm on a road trip. Which is why I listen to it almost every day, much to my man's dismay. There are few bands we disagree on, but, unfortunately Felice Brothers are one of them - in the distinguished company of Thao and the Get Down, Stay Down, Cold War Kids, Ryan Bingham and the non-musical husband-torture of the RHONY and RHOBH - I refuse to expand those acronyms. Those of you who need to know already do. The reunion shows are particularly painful for him. He can't just leave the room, it must be the whole house.

There is some music he loves that I cannot abide as well. Rush. Frank Zappa (ok, I can tolerate small doses) and most all 70s-80s "butt-rock." When I got home from my trip to France,  a mysterious Deep Purple LP had appeared in our collection.

Anyway, whenever I start gushing about a new band I have discovered, he asks "Is it a young guy trying to sound like an old guy?" UM, no... except maybe, yes. I am looking at you, Low Anthem. And Felice Brothers. Anyway, you can decide for yourself.



I mean, accordion? What's not to love.

Anyway, the road trips. I can't take one this year. And last year, no. Does driving 10 hours in separate cars to move across the PNW count as a road trip? No, it does not. I have had some epic road trips throughout the years. Some were horrible where I was trapped with maniac pseudo-hippies trying to touch my face with their dirty, disgusting pseudo-hippie feet and camping at sewage treatment plants (this is two separate trips). Some were wonderful filled with deserts and national parks and grilled cheese sandwiches and Wall Drug visits. Speeding tickets and snow camping in May.
Tennessee to North Carolina
TN to MT to TN not sure how many times, but once it took almost a month. Variously by way of Denver, Dayton OH, Chicago IL, literally every state and national park in Utah and some in Arizona.
MT to Banff
MT to Arcata, CA - through Eugene!

I want a road trip with my man down Highway 1 and next year, my friend moves to San Francisco and IT IS ON. I am already looking forward to it. Also, another friend has a quite significant milestone birthday, to which I have already RSVP'd. Don't know where it will be, but I am hoping we can drive there! Of course, because my car doesn't currently drive on the highway, or to South Eugene, because there are hills, so I may need to learn to drive my man's stick shift. I know. The other day I didn't fill my tank all the way, not because I am short on cash, but because why waste a full tank of gas in case my car breaks down?

Anyway, that was a tangent, but it's summertime! I have been neglecting the blog. I don't like to write too long at once, so the next time I will cover some recent developments such as:
I passed my comprehensive exams! - Do you really want to hear about this?
I went to France - I have to be brief here out of weak respect the people who I traveled with who I am unsure if read this blog. There is really no disguised identity around here. I will post some pics though.

Venus De Milo

I went to the Louvre. Some of you may know of the ill fated Paris trip of '02... Not a road trip but rather a train trip. Where my brother and I valiantly tolerated each others constant company for over a month before the eventual and inevitable blow up(s). Anyway, we left from France, leaving the only day to go to the Louvre A TUESDAY which EVERYONE KNOWS is the day all museums in France are closed. I finally got to go and although I went directly from the 10 hour flight and it was about 3am body time, it was worth the nine year wait. More later on this trip. The current one, not the brother one. Although, that trip is a goldmine...

We went to Ween! We got to sit in the disabled section! I met some people from the Ween Forum which I have "known" on the internet for almost a decade. Surprisingly nice.
We went to the Country Fair - I heard a bluegrass KIDS cover of NIN's Closer "I want to pet you like an animal. I want to feel you from the outside. You get me closer to dog."
My garden is growing - let me just say this now. Why can I only grow leaves and no vegetables? Lettuce is the only thing I like to grow in Oregon because everything else just makes leaves and flowers that never produce. Any tips?
I have two weeks left of the last course I am require to teach for the next two years. I have been loving the summer course and the students. Of course, this love will be gone when I get my evaluations. Two more weeks of love.

Will write soon friends.  Block Party next weekend VIVA Whiteaker!
xo pigeon xo

The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room (The Whole Wide Whit)

Much anticipated Ms. Whiteaker post to follow:

But first, a retraction. There is NO EXCUSE for not including the Black Key's album Brothers on my best of 2010 post. This humble apology is all I have to redeem myself.

I guess I do have an excuse actually (albeit a lame one). This album never got on rotation and I kept waiting and waiting. Then my "best friend" kept telling me over and over that she would send it and I kept waiting and waiting. Finally my man bought it for me for Valentine's Day (2011 - two months after my best of post was written).

So anyway, with deepest apologies to Dan, Patrick & all you readers, the album is amazing. Track after track: Everlasting Light, The Next Girl, Tighten Up, Howlin' For You, Ten Cent Pistol, Sinister Kid..... Just what you would expect, but better.

Check out this video, this is one you are going to want to watch. My only complaint is that it isn't a real movie.

Black Keys - Howlin' For You
Did you catch Shaun White in there? Love me some Shaun White.

Also, if you haven't seen it check out The Next Girl video - features the same dinosaur puppet who is named Frank.

I have a question. Why is the name Frank uncommon in the real world but the name of at least 10% of all fictional male characters?
Case in point, how many Franks do you know personally?
I know one - my husband.

Conversation with my stepbrother circa 2008:
Aloof relative: "I hear you have a new boyfriend."
pigeon: "Yes, that is true."
AR: "So who is this guy, what is his name?"
pigeon: "His name is Frank."
AR: "How old is he, like 60, 70?"
pigeon: "No, he is 32. Why would you say that?"
AR: "Just didn't know they still were naming people Frank."

However, half the weird, evil or quirky characters have this name.

 Pitch: Crotchety, crazy father for Larry David character... how about Frank?

"When it touches the lips, it tastes so good."

Let's go streaking. We're all streaking

Let's try the name Frank. 

Creepiest villain = Frank?

 Oh, wait there is creepier Frank.

"Lizard, am I standing in poop?"

One of my favorite characters of all time.

And last but not least:

Johnny Depp in the Tourist, introduces himself to Angelina's character:

"I'm Frank."

"That's a terrible name."

WTB, Angie? 

I happen to think that Frank is a fantastic, sexy name. Case in point:

My Frank.

So, I have more excuses. I haven't written my blog about the Ms. Whiteaker pageant yet for two reasons.

1) We were really rushing to get over there after the radio show as it started at 9pm so we did NOT want to miss the talent portion. Because my husband's truck doors do not lock and we live in the Whit and were going deeper into our wonderful neighborhood, we had to go home first to drop off our laptop and stack of records from that night's show. I asked him to grab my camera when he ran in and he forgot.

So I have no pictures and I have been patiently waiting and checking flickr and the like for some gems to show up and I have finally found them, although they are copyrighted but check them out here.

2) Because I didn't have my camera and there were several drinks consumed, I took notes on my BlackBerry for my dear readers.

2b) Said phone was LOST a few days later. That is a WHOLE nother story for another day. Happy ending = iPhone.

So this pageant is like a display of neighborhood pride. You guys probably know I really love my neighborhood. To paraphrase a contestant asked what she loved most about living in Whiteaker, this neighborhood makes me feel normal (by comparison).

We unfortunately did miss the talent portion but were in attendance for the "late" evening wear (think freakish lingerie) and the Q & A portion. There were about seven or eight lovely ladies with different levels of commitment to the competition. The place was packed. Sitting next to me was a paraplegic with quite an ingenious set up of carabiners and a Nalgene and heavy duty straws rigged up for his beers. The evening was hosted by the charming publisher of BoozeWeek, local celeb (Missoulians, think Nate Schweber status) Elliot Martinez.

The ladies were wonderfully dressed - really, check out the pictures. One had a huge papermache vagina. One had the Ninkasi logo shaved and dyed into her hair. Lots of bustiers, tutus, mohawks (real, not faux), '80s prom, lots of skin (tattoo covered skin)... it was all there.

Our mayor, Kitty Piercy, was there as a judge.

A sweet older lady asking questions like "If you could change one thing about the Whit, what would it be?"

Some of my favorite answers -
"Too much ribald activities during the day. Night is ok, but please, pants during the day."
"People leaving stuff outside their cars. And meth."

We figured that the complaint about the leaving stuff is referring to the frequent occurrence in these parts of people "cleaning" out their cars and leaving their junk on the side of the road (or in our yard as the case may be). Personally, I have never had a problem with this, since someone else always comes by and picks it up within the hour.

Another contestant suggested as an improvement to have fountains filled with free Ninaski.

After the winner was crowned, local punk band Soothsayers played and a friend of ours met us down at Sam Bond's Garage and we stayed up real late listening to records.

I haven't had what I like to refer to as a "record party" in a LONG time. Record parties cannot start before midnight and/or at least three drinks.To give you some perspective, the two ladies I last had a record party now have children. One of them has two. And I am still having record parties. Sigh.

It's my birthday today.

xo pigeon xo

I Saw You First, It Was in a Dream

Kaliméra friends, happy long weekend.
Here's what we were doing last year this time.

Sasquatch 2010

After a long, arduous debate, which btw is how I make the vast majority of all decisions, we opted to not go to Sasquatch this year. It is a little bit painful now that the time is upon us. Back in the fall, we were watching the streaming video and twitter obsessively to get the word on who would be playing.

On the pro-side we had:

GIVERS - I saw you first

Sidenote: There was another version of this song on youtube, which was nausea-inducing and the sound was worse BUT it showed the band pulling balloons out of big trash bags. Priceless. It reminded me of poorman's this feat by AF @ Coachella.

We watched Arcade Fire's Coachella performance live on youtube - it was fantastic and to be honest, I *almost* felt like I was there. Actually, we got better views and closeups, with none of the portapotties and sweat. Kind of nice. Anyway - on the encore, these big balls dropped down, hundreds of them, and they were somehow synchronized and controlled to turn patterns of different colors. I love it. Chris Milk (of Wilderness Downtown video fame), fun stuff. So what I am saying is, GIVERS, hang in! Pretty soon you could go from 800 youtube views and filling up Glad bags with balloons you blew up yourselves, to multimedia art collaborations and headlining Coachella, it could happen!

Back to the point: This band played at the WOW with Ra Ra Riot (also awesome and Sasquatch alums) and we didn't go because we are too tired and old. Big mistake.
Other pluses of 2011 lineup: Wilco, Head and the Heart, Iron and Wine (although I don't think that a festival is ideal for this at all, hence we'll see him at Crystal on Tuesday instead), Yeasayer, Cold War Kids (although we just saw them, and one member of this unit (the male member) is not so interested), Beach House(!!!), Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings, Local Natives, Matt & Kim, Deerhunter, Sleigh Bells (who would be perfect at a festival I think), Cotton Jones... Plus the couple dozen I have never heard of that would probably go on to become next year's favorites.

You'd think that would be enough to do the trick. But I am greedy. And unreasonable.

I wanted Arcade Fire. I wanted Black Keys. I wanted Ween again.

The first indication that we might not go this year came with the announcement of headliner Foo Fighters. Not really in the same class as Ween ('10) - for me anyway. Meh. Then the big names kept coming and and more meh.
Death Cab. Decemberists. Bright Eyes. Modest mouse. These bands do not excite me.
Then there was the portapotties, the trash, the lack of any vegan food, the field mice...

Oh wait, then we thought about the fact that technically - I am a student. On the quarter system.

That means next week is exam week.

And how I have COMPREHENSIVE exams in two weeks. For the (blissfully) unaware, these are tests where you are expected to demonstrate everything that you learned in the first 2 years of your PhD education and you need to pass if you want to continue in the program. you have 96 hours to complete a set of four questions. You have 10 pages to answer each question. The dreaded comps are looming large.

Then I need to get ready to teach a brand spanking new class.

It's going to be intense.

So, yeah, if you were wondering, we aren't going to the festival this year. Does this mean I am a (kind of) grown up?

Probably not, since we decided to binge locally on the Sasquatch ripple effect. Cotton Jones tonight. Maybe Cotton Jones again Saturday. Back up to Portland for Head and the Heart and Iron & Wine (aforementioned).

And stay tuned for another post this weekend about last weekend. We went to the Ms. Whiteaker pageant! And we played poker! We stayed up til 4am listening to records! Who says I am grown up?

There's No Darkness A Loomin

So if you follow me on my radioshow page or my FB page, you probably know that I was getting a little impatient about the sophomore release from Fleet Foxes.

I personally apologize to Robin Pecknold for the doubt because these guys killed it with this album. Which is probably not a good description because what they did is more like these guys met it at an art museum, took it out for coffee and ended up riding it on the handlebars of a cruiser bike while drinking red wine, eating strawberries and riding off into the sunset with this album.

It's pretty beibing good. And again I am in love. 

I usually imagine my faithful readers clicking my intro videos and using them as a sort of soundtrack to my writing, but today, I hope that you just watch the video.

Fleet Foxes - Grown Ocean from Helplessness Blues

Wasn't that incredible? 

I may have mentioned this before, but Fleet Foxes were here in Portland a couple weeks ago. And as major fans, we knew about the presale and bought the tickets immediately... even though in the back of my mind I felt like "May 1st... isn't there something I am doing that day?" Then a couple days later I realized. My man is RUNNING THE MARATHON that day.

We really like this band. We (he) seriously considered whether he could get up at 5:30am, run for 26.2 miles, get in the car, drive for 2 hrs and go to the show and stand up for 3 more hours, get back in the car and drive 2 hrs to get back around 24 hours after this day began. Wisely (or not) I talked him out of it.

We sold the tickets (for face value which I am really kind of proud about because I saw them going for triple the price. I really hope my friend's research assistant had a fantastic time).  Next time we are there.

But instead it was the marathon.

Dude in the orange ended up winning. Although I have to say 

I think that if you finish the marathon, you won it.

The Eugene Marathon is really an incredible event and I am so proud that my man has been a part of it. He is incredible too. He had a PR and took over 15 minutes off his time from last year. 

There was a Will Ferrel impersonator among the spectators/supporters this year.

F said he saw this guy at four different spots along the course, which is more than I even made. The runners were (mainly) loving it. I heard one runner say "show off that gut!" I guess if you are running a marathon you are allowed to say things like that.

It turns out May 1st is quite popular for events, because as well as Fleet Foxes and the Eugene Marathon, my man's sister also was going to get married that day. But she kindly moved it to the next weekend, which meant that we got to go to Baltimore for a long weekend. 

And I got to wear a cute dress. And orange shoes.

Not to trivialize how hard it is on the feet to run a marathon, but I felt like my feet *might* have been as sore than my man's after 6 hours in those 5 1/2 inch heels. Totally worth it though.

On another note, I am going to play poker this week. Last time I played it did not end well.

I really don't like losing. 

What is Golden Pigeon?

Hey Guys.

So I was reading some other blogs today (mainly because I have 12 academic articles that I have to read and create discussion questions for that must be emailed tonight AND I have mentally committed to going for a run for the first time in a month at 3:30pm on the dot - so I am reading blogs) and I noticed that these bloggers have an information page about themselves. I thought I needed one of those about me pages. This is what came out and I thought I’d share it with you here as well as pasting it in there for your future reference:

I kind of figure you all know me pretty well already but...just in case you want to bone up on some pigeon trivia in case we ever get selected to go on a game show where they test your knowledge about your friend/family member/favorite blogger I have added this page for you.

I wish there was a show like that - instead of the Newlywed Game it could The "whatever relationship you have to this person" Game. I would totally lose that game. Because:

(Fact #1) I am not very observant.

I would need to really cram with you for us to be contenders in this game. Keep it in mind when applying to be a contestant and considering me for your partner. I would be really good though, if you could just give me a little "about you" page so I can cram at the last minute because:

I am really good at cramming (Fact #2). 

Speaking of applying for game shows – do you think that my man and I should apply for Amazing Race? I really, really think we’d have a chance.

A chance of getting on the show, of not winning. We would never, ever be able to win that show, which is why I think it would be funny to be on it for one episode. Do you think my program would give me a leave of absence for that (I’m kidding, people who work at my job with me! Completely kidding. I haven’t even printed out the 11 page application).

I used to be obsessed with the Game Show Network, or GSN as I liked (please notice the PAST tense) to call it (Fact #3).

There was this game they used to play that looked like it was filmed in the '60s where they would test who knew the man better his wife or his secretary. That is some good programming right there. The secretaries always won.

You really have everything that you need to know about me now. Recuperated game show addict. Well, since I am giving you "facts" here:

I should admit that I DVR Jeopardy and we watch it while we eat dinner on the regular (fact #4).

Yes, we watch a show where you feel compelled to blurt out the answers while eating. I just realized this is weird and semi-disgusting. 

There are some things I don't like about Jeopardy. For starters, Alex Trebek. 

 Ahh, much better. I'll never forget the anal bum cover category. 

I also have no patience for contestants who haven't learned the Jeopardy basics. First of all - you should be able to answer any question about the Big 5 Jeopardy categories. Why would you not study 1) the presidents 2) ballet, opera and/or classical music, 3) Shakespeare, 4) Geography and 5) the Bible? Now, I currently know next to nothing about all of these categories, but I sure as hell would be cramming for them before my appearance. YOU HAVE TO CRAM.

I think that if you are smart enough to be selected to be on Jeopardy, then you should be smart enough to know FOR A FACT there will be at least 3 of these categories, or some cute variation (The third thing I don't like about Jeopardy - categories like “CU” in the City – “Notice the C U in quotations, we all know what that means”) of them on any given night. Do you not know in advance that you have been selected as a contestant? 

What does Alex come steal you out of your bed at 3am and then keep you sequestered with no materials that you could use to learn about the books in the Bible, because there really is no excuse (other than the kidnapping scenario) to defend you if you miss one of those questions.

And, please, before you go on Jeopardy, think about your chatting time story, ok? Because as I understand how the chatting portion of the show works, YOU SELF REPORT some things that you think are interesting about you and Alex picks one to ask about on air. No one is calling your enemy from high school or your ex-boyfriend to find out that you "once realized I had scurvy because my gums were bleeding" or that your engagement ring cost $11. Food for thought people.

 

And DO NOT get me started on Wheel of Fortune.

Everybody Wants To Be a DJ...

Hey Guys.
So first, I have a new love. You need to hear this band.
Just like I need to listen to the album in its entirety at least 2x a day.


The Head and the Heart - Lost in My Mind

And, surprisingly, this is a good lead in to my post tonight. It's good to be a DJ. And it's even better to have friends that give you the hookup. Thanks to our great friend Tracy in Missoula, my man and I are going to see these guys next month at their sold out show in Portland opening for Iron & Wine. This deal had very little to do with DJ and a BIG bunch having a thoughtful and sweet friend calling in a favor.

This is obviously not the first time this friend has done this sort of amazing and musically related type thing for me. Um, YEAH -  that is Taj Mahal.
My poor man got stopped at the door - apparently Taj only likes to meet the ladies.

Thank you Tracy.

The other night I really pulled the DJ card/street-team card. If any of you follow this blog on FB (which I wish you all would, because I am feeling a little lonely on there), then you know that Saturday was my man's birthday and we had a potential roadblock to our big celebration plans. I'll get to it.

I got him a mandolin. He already learned to play Keep the Car Runnin'. I love my husband. Speaking of keeping the car running, the theme of the show this weekend is RUN. Because the marathon is next Sunday. Wish him luck!

So before I get to the weekend, I need to share that my ears have been ringing since Wednesday. We went to Daedelus show, who is a "steam punk DJ" that plays a "monome," a couple days earlier and it was LOUD. And visually loud. I recommend checking out the video - it's quite a show. (You know what though? If you are enjoying the Head and the Heart right now you should wait a few minutes and finish listening to it then wait a couple more - I don't want you to get too shaken up. Maybe grab a beer too). The light show was downright hypnotizing. And he's a nice guy too - manning the merch table when we came in, shaking our hands and introducing himself as Alfred.

So moving on to the weekend - We had big plans to go see the Devil Makes Three after our radio show. Well, I went to get the tickets on Monday and they had sold out, which was quite upsetting. Seeing as I had been planning to take F to celebrate, PLUS I like the band so much I was on the street team, which means that I was hopping around town with a staple gun and a roll of tape putting up posters like a college freshman. Plus promoting the show every Better Than Sleep episode for the past two months.

After trying to get the special treatment (to which I felt very entitled) from the station, the venue (WOW) and the actual band, no luck. I even tried to scalp some tickets, but they weren't even available that way.

Anyway, at 10:05pm on F's bday we decided to push our luck and go over and plead our case in person. I promised him that I would not let it ruin my night when we ultimately got turned away, possibly even angrily. We played their version of Statesboro Blues during the "three show" and I got a little upset at the idea that they would be playing four blocks from our house and we weren't going to be there.

But, guess what? Between the awesome merch guy for the band and the understanding people at WOW, we got in! And they were great. The band is always a blast, this is the third time we have seen them together and everytime the crowd seems more into it then the last. Also, the banjo man's beard is reaching full blown hillybilly length which made me feel like it had been way too long since we've seen them.

Thanks DM3 and WOW, you made our night. And thanks to the guys from my journalism class for those Patron shots afterwards... it's so rare for us to see someone we know out and about in Eugene. I forget that Patron and tequila are really two different ballgames.

And thanks KWVA and the universe for our show. Love the show.
Tune in on Saturday!