tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75217422251941402962024-02-08T08:43:54.070-05:00The SeptemberistI am nothing of a builder, but here I dreamt I was an architect.Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-143221047007520642010-07-02T19:01:00.002-04:002010-07-02T19:23:49.530-04:00New month, new band pt. XIII<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">The Black Angels</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>I think we may have discovered time travel. If <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Angels_(band)">The Black Angels</a> didn't come directly out of the late 60's - early 70's then I'll eat my shoes. I've been a fan for quite a while now, I just never got around to sharing their music in this forum. I haven't yet figured out what sort of 'mood' you have to be in to listen to The Black Angels. Depressed immediately springs to mind, but just as quickly I have to dismiss it because it wouldn't work. Angry doesn't work either...happy? I'm going to go with you having to be in an 'on drugs' sort of mood. This band almost makes me want to dabble in mind-altering substances just to fully understand what's going on in most of their songs (...almost...). Regardless of mood, I think most people will find something they like about these guys. They have a 'drone machine' for crying out loud! I don't even know what a drone machine is, but I can hear it in every song. If you want to be droned at (and 'drone' is the perfect single word to describe this band) then sit back, relax, grab some hallucinogens and enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3jV6TnBC2nk&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3jV6TnBC2nk&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DbXqI6fo9G8&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DbXqI6fo9G8&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-8707619230259260702010-05-13T23:53:00.004-04:002010-05-14T00:03:30.150-04:00New month, new band pt. XII<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Joanna Newsom</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>Now, I'll be honest here, I've known about Joanna Newsom for a long time. When I first heard her I was far from impressed. To me she was just some girl with a really weird voice that played silly little songs on a harp. While that is true to a certain extent, her new album has shown me that she's much more than that. She is just some girl with a really weird voice that plays silly little songs on a harp and does those things very well. She is an amazing harpist and, oddly enough, she can really really sing. I find myself having to stop what I'm doing to just listen whenever she shows up on my iTunes shuffle. I'm basing all of what I'm saying on my experience with her newest album, but I think its a prime example of what she can do. You may have to 'get past' her voice (I had to and I'm glad I did) but when you do you'll find something fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Greq05zAS9g&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Greq05zAS9g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZD9a2e2M4Ag&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZD9a2e2M4Ag&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-42567230367715762432010-04-12T00:20:00.005-04:002010-04-12T01:39:01.626-04:00Under Great White Northern LightsI've done it. Ive watched one of the best <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">documentaries</span> about one of the best bands to come out of the 00's. While The White Stripes may sit in a very unfortunate second place in my list of favorite bands, it is certainly a close second. Everyone may not be a fan and everyone might not agree with my saying that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">they're</span> among the best ever but no one can deny that they created music that certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wasn't</span> like anything I'd ever heard before. The drums <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">aren't</span> always in sync. The guitar <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">isn't</span> always in tune. Jacks voice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">isn't</span> always perfect. The good news: none of those things matter. If anything, all of that adds that little bit of nastiness that the band uses to melt faces.<div><br /></div><div>I think my favorite thing about the movie is the exchanges between Jack and Meg (or lack thereof). They are the definition of 'polar opposite'. Jack is outgoing, charismatic and just plain loud. Meg is shy, reserved and just plain quiet. Its easy to see how one of the rumors is that they are brother and sister because <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">that's</span> exactly how they act. </div><div><br /></div><div>The live performances should be (and are) reason enough for you to watch this movie. I would argue that they are some of the best versions of the songs. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The White Stripes are better live. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I'm</span> not saying their albums <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">aren't</span> good but, compared to their live performances, their albums <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">aren't</span> good. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>Basically, what <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">I'm</span> getting at here is this: if <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">you're</span> a White Stripes fan you need to see this movie. If you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">aren't</span> a White Stripes fan you need to see this movie. If <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">you're</span> breathing right now you need to see this movie.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">"...but when it comes to the music, thats not pre-meditated at all. The music is really completely in charge of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">us</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre; "><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eYGt3i1DjFA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eYGt3i1DjFA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-48330238676146935702010-04-02T22:30:00.000-04:002010-04-02T22:21:50.011-04:00I have a confession to make...<div>I read that they're going to re-air the World Cafe that featured St. Vincent. In that article there was a picture of Annie Clark.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/S7aYHh2ltjI/AAAAAAAAAII/Up4V_NM_RXY/s1600/St%2BVincent%2Bby%2BWendy%2BLynch.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/S7aYHh2ltjI/AAAAAAAAAII/Up4V_NM_RXY/s400/St%2BVincent%2Bby%2BWendy%2BLynch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455715253719774770" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/S7aYHh2ltjI/AAAAAAAAAII/Up4V_NM_RXY/s1600/St%2BVincent%2Bby%2BWendy%2BLynch.jpg"></a>...I have a gigantic crush on Annie Clark...<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-36024292349957394612010-04-02T22:18:00.002-04:002010-04-02T22:21:11.835-04:00A good cover is a terrible thing to waste, pt. VThis is like the red-headed step child of the series' when it comes to my blog. I've done a few more in the way of new bands <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I'm</span> listening to and not so much bands that I currently listen to that cover bands that I've never listened to. <div><br /></div><div>This time we have my friend Colin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Meloy</span> covering a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Morrissey</span> song: Jack the Ripper. While the original version is good, I find that I like the acoustic treatment Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Meloy</span> gives it. So lend me your ear and enjoy.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre; "><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OQ1BpmuKbBA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OQ1BpmuKbBA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8425P_R6IsE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8425P_R6IsE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-16301878532418225002010-04-01T20:53:00.004-04:002010-04-01T21:02:21.686-04:00New month, new band pt. XI<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">The Temper Trap</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>Greetings, children, all the way from April!</div><div><br /></div><div>I always seem to apologize for not updating my blog more so I shan't bother doing it here. I will simply bestow upon your eager ears a new musical obsession of mine. This month it comes in the form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temper_Trap">The Temper Trap</a>. These gentleman hail from down under which is a first, as far as I know, for my little series here. We've been places like France and Scotland but have yet to venture west. These guys are kind of all over the place. You'll get some very acoustic-y songs followed by some very electronic-y songs. I'll try to choose two songs when it comes to be song-posting time that illustrates this. For those of you lucky enough to have seen '500 Days of Summer' you know who this band is. You might not realize it, but you do. I'll now shut up yap and let you simply listen and enjoy. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A2DluY5xnPo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A2DluY5xnPo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oh6JDfxMdwg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oh6JDfxMdwg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></span></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-52260724692357312592010-03-02T01:26:00.003-05:002010-03-02T01:36:31.600-05:00New month, new band pt. X<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Mumford and Sons</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div>I honestly cant get my head around the fact that we're at number 10 on our journey. I have yet to find out where this journey will have us end up, probably nowhere, but its not about the destination is it? (At least thats what I learned in school...on Fridays...in the cafeteria...)<div><br /></div><div>I would bet that several people could guess what this month's band was going to be. Yes, ladies and gentleman, its non other than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumford_and_Sons">Mumford and Sons</a>. These guys were recommended to me by a friend of mine (Tabitha (also <i>not</i> Joel or Richard)). As soon as I listened to the song I was referred to I was hooked. They hail from England and, at least in my opinion, take the American bluegrass sound and give it a British twist. You can definitely here the British influences in their music, but you can equally as well hear the American. Im having a hard time deciding which songs to post so I think I'll go with some of the lesser known ones...or maybe not. </div><div><br /></div><div>Listen and enjoy, children.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LSsZ04oGaDA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LSsZ04oGaDA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DHWsKTSdS74&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DHWsKTSdS74&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-28317707893238032482010-02-25T00:20:00.004-05:002010-02-25T00:28:08.344-05:00A year?Its funny. Until looking at a friend's blog, I didn't realize that my own blog celebrated its one year anniversary about a week ago. It really doesn't seem like its been that long...<div><br /></div><div>Well its here so we might as well put up at least a <i>little</i> something right? Right.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/S4YKIMY_l6I/AAAAAAAAAIA/dUYFvtnuTig/s400/HB-00232-C~Happy-Birthday-Big-Boy-Pin-up-in-Bathing-Suit-Posters.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442048335605110690" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>2/13/09</div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-34846570978556733632010-02-23T23:29:00.004-05:002010-02-23T23:42:32.361-05:00The Decemberists Down UnderI was scouring Facebook earlier when I stumbled across this little gem. A little gem that turned out to be a rather huge and dazzling diamond of a find. The Decemberists are finishing (or have finished, Im not sure) their tour in Australia. On January 20-something, they played in Sydney and the show was recorded. One could argue that its unfortunate they didn't record a concert in which they played the Hazards of Love. I say "its a Decemberists concert on video...what more do you want?!"<div><br /></div><div>I shall now link it one of the songs here for your viewing pleasure. If you find you have some superfluous time, I would recommend clicking the link below and watching the full concert.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><object width="528" height="337"><param name="movie" value="http://moshcam.com/embed/?mediaID=7747"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://moshcam.com/embed/?mediaID=7747" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="528" height="337"></embed></object><p>Watch <a href="http://www.moshcam.com/the-decemberists/metro-theatre-751.aspx">The Decemberists</a> and other great gigs on <a href="http://www.moshcam.com/">Moshcam</a>.</p></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-83781071514309536122010-02-09T01:26:00.004-05:002010-04-12T09:42:37.340-04:00New month, new band pt. IX<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Colin Meloy</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>So this isn't exactly a "new band" per say. Colin Meloy is the lead singer of a little band (my personal favorite if we're being honest) called The Decemberists. Hes played several solo tours and released a few solo albums. Only one of his albums has been widely released, the others you had to get by actually going to one of his live shows (its the only place they were sold). Recently, however, Ive been able to get a hold of the other 3 of the 4. We have Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey, Shirley Collins, and Sam Cooke as well as Colin Meloy Sings Live (the album with the most wide of releases). Today I'm more focused on Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins. Apparently she was really big in England in the mid - late 60's playing a lot of old British folk tunes. Colin took a select few of those songs and re-did them yet again in his own unique style (and voice). Here are just a couple of the tracks off the album that I haven't been able to stop playing since it started.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: normal;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IX7VNJ-fwAw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IX7VNJ-fwAw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QM1nlYDMfb8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QM1nlYDMfb8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-64766127038460608662010-01-27T23:46:00.008-05:002010-01-28T00:09:19.497-05:00New month, new band pt. VIII<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">We Were Promised Jetpacks</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>Here I am, posting our new band for the month at the end of said month. I dont mean to post these so late, but that just seems to be how things happen to work out.</div><div><br /></div><div>This month we go across the pond yet again (see <a href="http://kmccune.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-month-new-band-pt-iii.html">New month, new band pt. III</a>), this time to Scotland, to meet a band called We Were Promised Jetpacks. I started hearing about this band not too long ago. Just about the time that I started to hear the name via word-of-mouth I started to hear their single (Quiet Little Voices) playing on the radio. I was a little nervous. I thought this was going to be another case of hearing a single on the radio and assuming the rest of the album is just as good only to find that it is, in fact, terrible. I took a risk, bit the bullet as it were, and decided to get the album based on a few YouTube videos and 30 second iTunes clips. I must say, the gamble paid off. These guys are fantastic. Ive found that Ive become less and less a fan of "loud" music. Im more of a Folk person, but I really dont mind that these guys play loud guitar riffs and yell at me from time to time.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, for future reference, if you're Scottish you can yell at me any day of the week.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e6shmJaOD3Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e6shmJaOD3Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:10px;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MihDdZPmy1o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MihDdZPmy1o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><object width="560" height="340"></object></span></div>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-81595657470793088062010-01-09T20:17:00.004-05:002010-01-09T20:52:00.784-05:00My top 10 of '09.At the behest of a friend Ive decided to do my top 10 songs of 2009. This is, by no means, a definitive list. It is by no means a list that a took any large amount of time to construct. It is simply a list of some of the songs that Ive enjoyed listening to that happened to be released in the past year. They are in no particular order, whatever you may think. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I'm</span> not too good at putting into words why I like a song, so Ill simply link them for your listening enjoyment. There may or may not be a few words said about some of them, that remains to be seen. So, without any further delay, I give you my list.<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br />The Beetle King on a Coconut Estate - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MeWithoutYou</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wTcrWUU-EeA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wTcrWUU-EeA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MeWithoutYou</span> is a band that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">you'll</span> either love or hate. Regardless of how you feel about them, the message of this song speaks for itself.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Broken Horse - Freelance Whales</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PG8rl7W2SW4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PG8rl7W2SW4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />These guys <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">aren't</span> even well enough known to have their songs stolen and put on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">YouTube</span> so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">you're</span> forced to find live footage. Never the less, they still amaze me every time I listen to them.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Waitin</span>' for a Superman - Iron and Wine</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L5gBt-zpb-w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L5gBt-zpb-w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I heard this song one day at work on my Iron and Wine Pandora station. It was soon after this that I was unable to use Pandora at work anymore. While this song was playing I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">couldn't</span> help but wonder what album it was on and why I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">hadn't</span> heard it before. Come to find out, it was on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">album</span> that I had bought mere days before. Ive listened to it too many times to count.<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >60 Feet Tall - The Dead Weather</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rfenJiS5NV4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rfenJiS5NV4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I agree with Richard that there <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">isn't</span> much depth to this album. If you want stripped down, dirty rock then this is the band for you. And let me tell you, sometimes I just want some stripped down, dirty rock.<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Ghosts - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Fanfarlo</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GWi1fS5ApUE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GWi1fS5ApUE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">don't</span> even remember where I first heard of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Fanfarlo</span>. I think it may have been from a banner ad on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Stereogum</span>. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">doesn't</span> really matter anymore <span style="font-style: italic;">how</span> I came to find them, but the fact that I <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rjFaenf1T-Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rjFaenf1T-Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Of course <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">you're</span> going to be drawn to a band with a name like that. I first heard this song on the radio and immediately knew I had to have the album. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">didn't</span> disappoint.<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Your Ghost - Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Laswell</span></span><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DejH3qnhQrA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DejH3qnhQrA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I think Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Laswell</span> is what you would call a 'guilty pleasure' of mine. With songs of his being played on Grey's Anatomy it would seem he would be too mainstream for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ol</span> Kurtis (I know I know, there are plenty of bands I listen to with songs on those shows). I saw him at the Ingrid <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Michaelson</span> show and almost fainted. True story.<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise - The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Avett</span> Brothers</span><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E22HprMQN8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E22HprMQN8M&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Ah, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Avett</span> Brothers. I do love these guys. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">I'm</span> not a fan of country music and these guys are, arguably, teetering on the edge of that. The good thing for them is they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">don't</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">want</span> to play country music. Alt-country was the genre invented to classify this band, of that I have no doubt.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Ghosts Who Write History Books - The Low Anthem</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4rlutDv_rVE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4rlutDv_rVE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />The Low Anthem is another bunch of merry music makers that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">aren't</span> quite as widely known as others. That, however, is perfectly fine with me. I like having little gems for myself from time to time. This is one of those.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Sugalumps</span> - Flight of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Conchords</span></span></span><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uz2G7hh9jyc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uz2G7hh9jyc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />To end the list of course I have to go with a little Flight of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Conchords</span>. If there is anyone out there who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">doesn't</span> at least crack a smile during this song then there is a serious problem with the world we live in.Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-3945138367182613052009-12-04T20:04:00.007-05:002009-12-05T00:24:47.708-05:00New month, new band pt. VII<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Freelance Whales</span><br /><br />I thought I would get this in a little earlier in the month than my previous attempt. Like I said before, I have a few that Im sitting on so Im covered for at least a few more months as far as these recurring posts are concerned.<br /><br />This month we look at my new buddies Freelance Whales. I discovered these guys in a way I havent discovered any other band before. Word of mouth is a big piece of my music-finding puzzle, followed by searching on my own for things I havent heard yet, followed further still by seeing a post of a youtube video of a band I havent yet heard of on a friend's Facebook page by the brother of said friend's wife. At least those are the top three ways, Im sure there are others... Regardless, I listened to the song that was posted and immediately fell in love with these guys. Theyre from New York which bumps them up several spaces in my book already. They tend to mix it up, which I like, from song to song. 'Starring' sounds to me like <a href="http://stereogum.com/archives/owl_city_pretty_much_admit_ripping_off_postal_serv_099521.html">Owl City</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span>. Electronic beats beating and happy sounding lyrics make me dream of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Postal_Service">The Postal Service</a> (without stealing their sound directly *glare at Owl City*). Then, you find yourself listening to something like 'Broken Horse' which is more on the folky side. As with all the bands I throw up here, I think its better if you just listen so here you go:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lb7oXnC-E_4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lb7oXnC-E_4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ISnM1Kw1khI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ISnM1Kw1khI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-34840797503684257462009-11-24T21:04:00.004-05:002009-11-24T21:14:42.867-05:00New month, new band pt. VI<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bon</span> Iver</span><br /><br />I had to get this in before the end of the month. I have a lot to choose from when it comes to new bands that came my way this time, so much so I had a hard time choosing which one would grace this spot. The good news is, December <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">isn't</span> too far around the corner which means someone else will get some love relatively soon.<br /><br />This month its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Iver"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bon</span> Iver</a>. He came to me late in the month from a friend (yeah, you). I had heard of him before but never really bothered to take the time to listen to him for more than a few seconds at a time. I realize now what a mistake I had been making all along. His voice, at least to me, has that 'haunting' quality that I never really used to think existed. Its good music to relax (or fall asleep ;) ) to, without a doubt. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wouldn't</span> recommend it for your hardcore work-out sessions or anything. Ill leave you with a few of my favorites so far as I plan on listening to a lot more of him in the near future...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ssdgFoHLwnk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ssdgFoHLwnk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LuQrLsTUcN0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LuQrLsTUcN0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-37506783817976240472009-10-28T21:11:00.002-04:002009-10-28T21:11:50.672-04:00Happy Birthday to the ground!I saw this and laughed like I havent laughed in a long time.<br /><br /><object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/ovYI7ZF7gZYZDS7o7v4X7w/0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/ovYI7ZF7gZYZDS7o7v4X7w/0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="296"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-10768582993865013962009-10-15T23:21:00.004-04:002009-10-15T23:31:10.740-04:00New month, new band pt. V<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:180%;" >Panda Bear</span><br /><br />I do apologize for the length of time I have allowed to pass since last I updated my blog. I dont know <span style="font-style: italic;">why</span> I havent posted anything, Ive had plenty of things to talk about (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_decemberists">Decemberists</a> round 2 anyone?) Well Im here now and ready to bring you a new band Ive been listening to.<br /><br />This month it isnt so much a band as it is a person. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panda_Bear_%28musician%29">Panda Bear</a> isnt his real name, but its the name everyone knows him by. Yes, its the same Panda Bear from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_collective">Animal Collective</a> (a band that I like more and more every day). If you know Animal Collective, youll know Panda Bear since they have the same sound. Crazy noises / lyrics on top of catchy beats. Youll find a few examples below, the best of which I cannot bring you as they are too long and mind blowing for YouTube to contain.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/25_gjUbvqNg&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/25_gjUbvqNg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6mHzCgoy7YA&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6mHzCgoy7YA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-25116483981508419362009-09-28T23:59:00.004-04:002009-09-29T00:07:50.229-04:00A good cover is a terrible thing to waste, pt. IVIn my recent musical adventures, Ive had my face grabbed and thrust directly into a song. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dont</span> know why it was this song, or what brought it on exactly, but its "Major Tom (Coming Home)". Originally by a one, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Schilling">Peter Schilling</a>, it has since been redone for a Lincoln commercial by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiny_Toy_Guns">Shiny Toy Guns</a>.<br /><br />The original is classic 80s <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">synth</span> pop. The remake is nothing short of a copy of the exact same style, except for the "80s" part of course.<br /><br />Enjoy, little ones.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jt-R5hj_lWM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jt-R5hj_lWM&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9OSXsB946k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9OSXsB946k&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-13485329737380090572009-09-15T21:11:00.005-04:002009-09-15T22:14:09.415-04:00Operation Blind Fury 6: Phase 2<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I apologize to those of you who have been patiently (or not so) waiting for the rest of this tale. Im sure youve given up waiting and have moved on to some much more fruitful endeavor such as not waiting. So, Ill get right into it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Refinery</span><br /><br />When I let off we were headed back to the airfield, heads hung in defeat. Not complete defeat mind you, it feels surprisingly good knowing that you and a few of your buddies held an entire town against an onslaught of people in tan uniforms. When we got back to the airfield we had a little time to rearm, eat, and regroup. We got intelligence that there was a downed pilot being held captive in an area known as 'the refinery'. A few squads volunteered (ours being one of course) and a few others were recruited. The refinery was further in the woods than Browntown but, arguably, easier to approach. The 4 or so squads gathered everything they would need and we headed out. We were up front (obviously) and met a little resistance the closer we got to the woods. As we were headed toward the path that would lead us directly to the refinery we made a new friend. A tan was laying in the tall grass on the other side of the path about 15 yards away and proceeded to completely mow over about 10 of our guys. I dove into the nearest patch of tall grass I could find because I was completely exposed. A few seconds later our killer had been taken care of. I got up out of my patch of grass, walked over to him, patted him on the shoulder and said something about how good a shot he was. He was a nice guy and thanked me. (I would see this guy several more times throughout the day.) After we had regained our senses and slowed our heart rates after the near heart attacks we had collectively experienced, we headed into the woods. The refinery turned out to be a little more heavily guarded than we had first thought. I found a cluster of trees directly across the creek from the buildings and dug in. I couldnt see much in the way of people. Every once in a while I would catch a glimpse of someone running from one building to another, and they always seemed to take the same route. I trained my gun on that spot and waited. I got the next two people that tried to run and was beginning to think I could make myself a nice little pile of dead tans when we got the word that the airfield was under attack and we would have to pull back to help reinforce our guys there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Recon</span><br /><br />There are train tracks that ran all the way across the far northern border of the playing field and they were our route back to the airfield. It was easy to make good time following them because we didnt have much in the way of brush or woods to contend with. The tracks were bordered by tall grass on the inbound side of the field which made for an interesting walk. You never knew when a pesky tan would jump up and start shooting. We didnt get into much trouble until we started getting closer to the airfield. There were a few box car type containers (?) that the tans liked to hide behind. They were dealt with, rather severely, and we headed down into the brush toward our objective. The next few minutes were filled with Vietnam-type "go in here and see if there are bad guys" missions. A teammate would walk toward a tree only to get blasted in the face by a quick burst of fire, then someone else would be right behind him killing whoever had just shot him. And so it went until we had killed everyone threatening our fair base. With all the enemy busy walking back to wherever it is they came from, we had plenty of time to sit and rest, and rest we did. We had plenty of time to reload and eat. Jeff decided to take this opportunity to shove as much food down my throat as possible. Clif bar this and Clif goop that. Im not sure what all it was, but whatever it was worked in the end. Mags and stomachs full we went out into the field and made a perimeter. Richard and myself headed up to the railroad tracks to do a little recon while we sent Prevett to the top of the tower in the airfield with this rifle and a radio so he could do a little recon of his own. Before heading to the tracks, me and Ben thought it would be a good idea to relieve ourselves. We walked over to a small 'helicopter' at the airfield and did our business behind it (number one, dont worry, this is important for later). Fast forward back to me on the railroad tracks. I had set my rifle down and armed myself with a pair of binoculars as they seemed more appropriate given the fact that there werent any enemies for hundreds of yards around. There really wasnt much to talk about. I watched a few civilians talking to some tans for about 20 minutes. This situation quickly turned into the civilians leading the tans away and killing them which was the most entertaining part of the whole thing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Airfield Attacked</span><br /><br />The next bit is a little foggy. For some reason we ended up back at the airfield, regrouping I believe, when we saw almost the entire tan team making their way across the field toward us. Everyone split off and took up positions. Jeff, Ryan, and myself headed toward the tracks (yet again) and hunkered down in a big patch of tall grass. Im not sure how many there were headed our way. It had to be at least 75. We didnt move. We could hear them getting closer and closer. A few of them had walked past us by the time the first shot was fired. Jeff shot a quick burst and killed one. None of the tans around had any idea where it came from and just started shooting wildly into the brush. We werent hit, not yet anyway...I saw a medic running up to the gut Jeff had just killed. It was a bad move on his part, but an entertaining one. Just as he got to his fallen comrade Jeff let loose with another burst killing the medic with a hail of BBs and yelps. This time, they found Jeff. He was killed in a matter of seconds. Me and Ryan were still in our positions, only feet away from where Jeff was killed. More of the tans had started getting closer and surrounding us. It was almost an unspoken plan between the two of us. As soon as Ryan had a shot he stood up and took it, and I did the same in the opposite direction. I stood up and fired a burst, killing two people. As I was going to kneel back down I realized that no one was shooting back which meant they hadnt figured out where I was yet. So there I stood, popping off round after round into the unsuspecting hoards of tan uniforms. I got 5 when all was said and done. Thats when they found me. I dont think Ive ever been hit with as many BBs as I was then, but it was worth it. We threw our red death rags on our heads and stepped out of the brush and slowly made our way toward the airfield, which was all but overrun, we were just watching the spectacle unfold. It was at this point that I noticed a few members of the tan team making a break for the 'helicopter'. Why yes, it IS the same one I mentioned Ben and myself peeing behind! And wouldnt you know it they dove right behind it, Im 99% sure, directly into our urine puddle. Even though the airfield ended up being taken, me and Ben won ourselves a small victory.Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-30700195278970216442009-09-01T22:38:00.013-04:002009-11-24T21:17:34.110-05:00New month, new band pt. IV<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >St. Vincent</span><br /><br />I rather enjoy doing this. It makes me go out of my way to find new music every month.<br /><br />This month we look at St. Vincent. Simply going by the name I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wouldnt</span> have expected what I got when I started listening. I was greeted by the voice of the lovely Annie Clark with her bushy black hair and big beautiful eyes. While the latter two add little or nothing to the sound of the music, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Im</span> glad I know they exist. A fact that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Im</span> reminded of often as her face is plastered <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">prominently</span> on the front of her latest album 'Actor'. She has a unique sound, Ms. Clark. Her voice would lead you to believe that her lyrics are harmless and innocent when, in fact, the opposite is sometimes true. 'The Bed' is a perfect example:<br /><br /><blockquote>"We're sleeping underneath the bed<br />To scare the monsters out<br />With our dear daddy's Smith and Wesson<br />We've got to teach them all a lesson<br /><br />Don't move<br />Don't scream<br />Or we will have to shoot"</blockquote><br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">didnt</span> know what I thought about her at first, but having listened to 'Actor' several times through Ive become quite the fan. I may also have a bit of a crush... :)<br /><br />Here are just a few songs of hers:<br /><br /><div><object width="420" height="339"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x35rzk_674-st-vincent-paris-is-burning_music"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x35rzk_674-st-vincent-paris-is-burning_music" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="420" height="339"></embed></object><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x35rzk_674-st-vincent-paris-is-burning_music">#67.4 - St Vincent - Paris is Burning</a></b><br /><i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/lablogotheque"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lablogotheque</span></a></i></div><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mb6T0pMOc0s&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mb6T0pMOc0s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-86060868859537016312009-09-01T22:02:00.002-04:002009-09-01T23:24:36.493-04:00A good cover is a terrible thing to waste, pt. IIIWhilst stumbling around <a href="http://stereogum.com/">Stereogum</a> today (which is the only way to peruse that site) I came across an interesting link: "Taken By Trees covers Animal Collective's 'My Girls'". Now, I had never heard of <a href="http://www.takenbytrees.com/">Taken By Trees</a>, and still havent if we're being honest, but this might be one of the better covers of a song Ive ever heard. Not only does this give me an excuse to post a cover of a great song, but it gives me an excuse to post an Animal Collective video. So, with nothing else to impede your curiosity, I shall give you two videos to enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zol2MJf6XNE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zol2MJf6XNE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8nJ5n4GX5ag&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8nJ5n4GX5ag&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-25818585393065563262009-08-30T21:37:00.016-04:002009-08-31T12:07:39.243-04:00Operation Blind Fury 6: Phase 1<span style="font-weight: bold;">After Action Report for the events of 29 August 2009.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exercise Name:</span> Operation Blind Fury 6<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Duration:</span> 1000 - 1800<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exercise Date:</span> 29 August 2009<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type of Exercise:</span> Military Simulation (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MilSim</span>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location:</span> Springfield, OH<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ive attached this map so that the uninitiated wont be completely lost.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SptFwrxg8BI/AAAAAAAAAGw/3SennDzgqXo/s1600-h/bf6map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SptFwrxg8BI/AAAAAAAAAGw/3SennDzgqXo/s400/bf6map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375967282883260434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Important notes:</span><br />A - Airfield<br />1-5 - Artillery pieces<br />B - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Browntown</span><br />R - Refinery<br />E - Emerald City<br />C - Comm Dish</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Exercise Overview:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Staging Area</span><br /><br />Ill start our story not at the beginning, but a little ways in to spare you (the reader) any of the droll details surrounding the preparation and drive up. We got to the hotel in Springfield at around 10 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thats</span> pm). We checked in and decided we would like some sort of sustenance in our stomachs so we made for the nearby <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Arby's</span>. Upon our entrance into the establishment we found it was staffed by a paltry three people who had just mopped the entirety of the entrance way. The manager let us know this fact several times. She was a very outspoken black woman with the fruit of her amorous entwine inside her (I tried hard to get that one on there Richard). By the time we left, though, I think we had made ourselves a new friend in Springfield. We made our way back to the hotel and commenced the chore of getting our gear together. This is the part of the story where everything will be, regrettably, about me and my experience rather than the group simply because the group is much to large to tell <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">everyones</span> story. Too large for me to even <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">everyones</span> story.<br /><br />My gear was (mostly) the way I wanted it. I had to lose a mic for a radio to Brad who would be our Communications guy, but other than that I got to hold on to everything. I had 8 magazines on my person with no room for anymore. Loading those was my last priority, as it always is. I started loading pouches, utility and otherwise, with as much food as possible. The menu for the day would be peanut butter sandwiches, peanut butter crackers, and whatever else Jeff made me eat (more on that later). I loaded my mags and put them in the proper place. I was to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Prevett's</span> go-to guy out in the field and he mine so I carried extra ammo for the both of us. At that point my gear was ready, loaded with food and ammunition, what more could I need? When everyone else had everything loaded and ready to go we headed to bed. It was around 1 at this point and we had to be up and out the door by 6:15. Yes you read that right 'we had to be up and out the door by 6:15'.<br /><br />I awoke the following morning having gotten a far-from-adequate 4 hours of sleep. I stumbled around for a few minutes before getting dressed. We took all our gear down to the cars, loaded it in, and left for the field. Its about a 15 minute drive from where we stayed and we were there in no time. We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">werent</span> the first ones this time like we have been in previous years. From what I had read, recon teams (for both sides) were supposed to be deployed at 7 am. They opened the gate at around 6:30 and we pulled in only to have to stop and wait for another 15 minutes. They then opened a second gate which we moved inches toward only to have to stop and wait for another 20 minutes. The people in charge of the even started coming down the line making sure we had everything we needed: death ropes, waivers, etc. Then we waited for another 30 minutes. Finally, after almost an hour of sitting in the car on a gravel drive, we were admitted to the field and found ourselves a place to park. I always like the hour or so before the event starts. Its a wonderful opportunity to people watch. I would be writing for days if I described some of the people / things I saw. Regardless, I had to get my gear on, get my gun ready and head over to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">chrono</span> station. They have to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">chrono</span> our guns every year to see how fast <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">theyre</span> shooting. Automatic weapons (like most of ours) can only shoot at a maximum velocity of 450 fps. The debate on the max fps for single shot rifles still rages to this day, while bolt action rifles are allowed to shoot well over 500. Mine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">chrono'd</span> at a reasonable 290 - 300 so I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">wasnt</span> completely ashamed. Safety goggles on, we made our way down the hill to the 'airfield'. A quick aside about the safety goggles. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Youre</span> supposed to wear goggles that 'fully seal' to protect you from stray <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">BBs</span> flying willy-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">nilly</span> around your head. The only problem with the fully-sealing goggles is they have this terrible tendency to fog up at the most inopportune times (i.e. every second of the day) so, I carried a pair of shooting glasses down to the field with me in my pocket. As soon as I got to the airfield I took those monstrosities off my face and threw on my shooting glasses and, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">wouldnt</span> you know it, they <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">didnt</span> fog a single time that day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Battle of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Browntown</span></span><br /><br />With our team (all 170 of us) assembled at the airfield we were given our initial orders. Our first objective would be to defend <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Browntown</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Browntown</span> is a small clump of buildings just inside the woods east of the airfield. One platoon (or maybe squad, I cant remember) would stay and defend the airfield while the rest of us would make our way to the town and, hopefully, get there before the enemy did. So we ran. Our Lieutenant (LT) was a rather short little man that liked to curse a lot so, the whole run, I heard him about 100 yards behind me cursing about one thing or another. We finally made it to the treeline and met a little resistance which was quickly dispatched. We forded a creek and pushed into the town. There was fire coming from the woods all around so we dug in. I took up a position at a tree watching the road heading north out of town. There were a few enemies making their way down the road but nothing to get excited about. The bulk if their numbers were still on their way. As more and more of them started to show up they started to hit our flanks. We had people coming from the east and some moving out into the field and were coming around on our west. I moved from my tree and headed into the woods overlooking the field. There were a few of us in the trees and they, apparently, knew we were there because there we shots hitting all around me. The chaos had started to show itself a little bit at this point. Our squad had been separated when we took up positions in the town so hardly any of us knew where the others were. I moved through the trees, under vines and over weeds and came to one of the roads leading in from the field. There I found <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Prevett</span>, behind a tree, picking people off as they tried to make their way in. It was about that point that I got a call over the radio telling the entire squad to come back to the center of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Browntown</span> and hold there.<br /><br />I ran through the woods, hopped the creek, and made my way to the middle of the town. When I got there I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">wasnt</span> too excited about what I found. Approximately 80 - 100 of us had made the initial push on the town and, when I got back to the center, there were only about 20 of us left. I saw Richard laying in a makeshift sandbag bunker and he yelled at me and asked me if I needed to load. I, of course, said yes. Over the past several minutes I had shot out almost every one of the mags I was carrying. I ran over to the bunker and hopped in. It was my job to load whatever mags were empty between the two of us while he covered. So load I did. At first it was easy. I only had a few to load and was getting them finished fairly quickly. Then the enemy (we'll call them 'tans' from now on) started to really push on the town. With tans everywhere, Richard had no choice but to shoot anything and everything he could see which meant more empty mags for me to load, all the while I was yelling out enemy positions. Between the incoming fire bouncing off the various wood and metal buildings, Richards gun shooting inches from my head and all the yelling going on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Im</span> not exactly sure how we heard it. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">didnt</span> sound very close at first, it must have made its way around the field. Then it got louder and we knew it was headed right for us. The enemy (and us since we're being fair) had a 'gunship'. Gunship loosely translated to dude driving a 4 wheeler and a fat guy with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_automatic_weapon">SAW</a> on the back. The thing about the gunships was you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">couldnt</span> just simply shoot the people driving or riding, you had to use either a 'rocket launcher' or 'grenade launcher' that shot little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">nerf</span> footballs and hit the 4 wheeler to stop them. Luckily for us we were prepared for just such an occasion as Richard had fixed my (yes my) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203">M203</a> on the front of his rifle. He sat down next to me, our backs to the north, and we waited. The gunship came down the north road that I was watching earlier. We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">didnt</span> dare stick our heads up because we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">didnt</span> feel like getting shot in the face by a fat guy with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_automatic_weapon">SAW</a> so we only had the sound to go on. We heard him getting closer and closer until finally it was time. Richard spun up stuck his gun around the tree (and my face) and pulled the trigger on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203">M203</a>. It was a direct hit. The look on the driver's face was priceless. He <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">couldnt</span> believe what had just happened. I was still trying to regain my sight and hearing since the shot went off right in front of my face, but I could see and hear enough. The gunship decided he should probably get out of the line of fire so he retreated back to his base. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Thats</span> when I realized that, while I had been doing all my loading and battling gunships, we had been completely surrounded.<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">didnt</span> know where most of our squad was and I could only see about 15 people from our team still in the town. At some point in the chaos, Richard had been shot and so took over loading duties. The north and south roads seemed to be the most popular means of entry for the tans into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Browntown</span>. Richard had just been healed by a medic ('<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">thats</span> what she said' guy) so we took turns covering both directions. I was watching the north and could see a lot in the way of movement headed down the road. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Prevett</span> had shown up and needed his magazines loaded (no ammo seemed to be a common theme in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Browntown</span>). He used what remaining ammo he had and his scope and watched the north road. Richard loaded like a champ and divided up the full mags to their happy owners. "If you guys pop up now you can kill like 10 people" I heard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Prevett</span> say. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Theres</span> no way" I thought, and apparently Richard thought the same thing. We thought we would humor our sharpshooter by swinging our guns up and, sure enough, there were about 10 people not too far down the path headed right toward us. I pulled the trigger and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">didnt</span> let go. I went through about 4 magazines at this point, putting one in, holding the trigger until it was empty, dropping it and jamming in another one. Im not sure how many we killed, but it was a fair few. When I was on my last mag one of the tans decided it would be a good idea to slowly step out into the middle of the road and stand there. He must not have seen or heard the mass of fire coming from where we were. I pulled up my gun and shot a burst. I followed the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">BBs</span> as they flew through the air and slowly dropped and hit him directly in the face. I could hear the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">GAHH</span>!!" from my position and immediately burst into raucous laughter. I shot out the remainder of the ammo in my gun and went for another mag only to find I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">didnt</span> have any full ones left. I checked on the guy Id just killed on the path and saw that he was being dragged away by a medic. There was nothing I could do but look at Richard and scream "SHOOT HIM!!" several times, directly at his face. There <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">wasnt</span> a full mag between us and the guy was dragged away and healed. Now is when things started to go bad. We had been surrounded for a long time now and that tends to thin your numbers. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">dont</span> know how many of us were left at this point, 10 maybe? We had been moving sandbags around to give us cover where we needed it but at a certain point its inevitable. I cant remember who went first, me or Richard, but we were both eventually shot and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Browntown</span> was lost. We threw our red death rags on our heads and made the walk back to the airfield which was still in our control. All in all the 15 or 20 of us held <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Browntown</span> for an hour and a half with the tans throwing most of their team at us, so it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">wasnt</span> too sad a walk.Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-52446558207775513942009-08-27T16:36:00.014-04:002009-08-27T23:00:50.461-04:00The Dakotas, mostly of the 'south' variety: The rest of the story<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">As I sit here, under the weather and under the influence of A Mourning Rain, </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Im</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> reminded of the story </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Im</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> supposed to finish. My deepest apologies for not producing the second part of our two part tale earlier. Were I to say I forgot I would be doing the lot of you a gross injustice. I, in point of fact, did not forget. I have merely been taken by on</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">e of the deadly sins: sloth. Having conquered the lure of sloth, if only for the time being, I shall now finish my tale so that you may have that slight </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wisp</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> of satisfaction that can only come from the conclusion, and resolution, of a good story.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Part Two</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>When last we left our heroes, they were headed the wrong way in the middle of that God forsaken state known as Iowa. Will they reach their destination in time? What fate awaits the one that got them lost? Only time will tell...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />The Sunrise</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SpcAvKPWGFI/AAAAAAAAAGI/7PgnLBZgF0E/s1600-h/2009-08-20+06.38.15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SpcAvKPWGFI/AAAAAAAAAGI/7PgnLBZgF0E/s200/2009-08-20+06.38.15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374765490492545106" border="0" /></a><br />Brian having taken over the captains chair, we continued our jaunt through Iowa toward our final destination of Sioux Falls. It was at this point that I realized I was looking at one of the few sunrises I had ever seen in my life. Phone in hand, complete with camera (I do love technology) I snapped a few photographs. They certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">arent</span> anything to write home about, but I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">couldnt</span> let this occasion pass by undocumented. The rest of the drive was uneventful, full of sleep and other equally-as-boring affairs.<br /><br />At long has we had arrived. A phone call, a wrong turn, and a hilarious parking job later, we were greeting Joel with hugs all around. We entered the homestead of his fiance, Andi, and were glad to meet her and her family. Two of the four of us <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">adventurers</span> had already met the bride to be, I being one that had not (at least in person). She is an adorable little thing, our Andi, and I was reminded of her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">daintiness</span> at most every turn seeing little pairs of flip-flops strewn about. There was pasta cooking when we arrived, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Im</span> a sucker for pasta. Unfortunately it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wasnt</span> to be our dinner that evening but instead was slated for the menu at the reception. It was about this point we realized that we had driven for fourteen hours, through the night, having taken nothing even close to resembling a shower. Bathed and smelling good, at least as good as a man is capable of smelling, we set out on our first errand: tea lights. In the previous sentence I inferred that I was a male and therefore, with that being a true statement, I had no idea what tea lights were. "The little candles in the metal thing" was the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">explanation</span> I was given and was immediately made aware of my thickness as I knew <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly</span> what tea lights were. "Where shall we go to get tea lights?" seemed to be the most popular question over the next few minutes. Even though our minds were still not made up (and by "our" I mean "Joel's" as we are all from Kentucky, have lived there our entire lives, and because of that, have little to no idea where to look for tea lights in Sioux Falls, SD), we set out about the town.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Tea Lights</span><br /><br />Sioux Falls is by no means a huge place but, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Im</span> fairly certain, has the largest number of casinos per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">capita</span> than anywhere else on God's green earth. I come to this conclusion only because I saw a small shopping center not more than a single block wide containing a gas station, Little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ceaser's</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">TCBY</span>, and shady casino. At first I thought it was rather strange but, after about 15 more seconds on the road, realized that it was an all to common <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">occurrence</span>. Even with the fascinating surroundings our mind did not stray from our mission. The local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">HyVee</span> was to be the first stop on our quest. Until pulling into the parking lot I had never seen, much less heard of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">HyVee</span>. After being in and out several times I can only describe it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">thusly</span>: if you want groceries and designer jeans at discount prices, go to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">HyVee</span>. What <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">HyVee</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">doesnt</span></span> have, apparently, are tea lights. Somewhat distressed by this, we left the store, but not before using Richards alcohol allowance to purchase a bottle of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Woodford</span> Reserve. Our next stop would be Lewis. Not Lewis's as I would have originally thought but just Lewis, singular. Until pulling into the parking lot I had never seen, much less heard of Lewis. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">After</span> being in and out once I can only describe it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">thusly</span>: if you want yard ornaments, craft supplies, or designer jeans at discount prices, go to Lewis. We were let down yet again by the lack of tea lights, but we had one more establishment to forage. Our final stop (which, looking back, probably should have been our first stop) was the friendly neighborhood <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">WalMart</span>. Now we were in our element. No more than 20 seconds in the door and we had tea lights in hand. We returned, victoriously, to an empty house as the women had made for the church to do reception preparations. So we did what anyone would do after driving fourteen hours through the night: we passed out on the couch.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Pub</span><br /><br />Later that evening we were invited to the rehearsal dinner. We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">werent</span> in the wedding mind you, but it was either that or leave us sitting in a strange house for a few more hours. We were treated with BBQ, watermelon, and various other <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">delectable</span> summertime foods. The only thing missing from this summer evening was summer. After dinner we were standing around the deck prattling on. The wind had begun to pick up and it must have come straight from the frigid arms of Canada. It got downright cold. Some mention was made of certain body parts being able to cut glass. Someone suggested all the men should go patronize the local <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Irish</span> pub. We, of course, agreed and set off. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">McNalleys</span> (how fantastically Irish) was our destination. We were accompanied by the Father that would be performing the wedding the following day. His name, unfortunately, escapes me, but he was a jolly fellow indeed. Being at an Irish pub, one can only assume they have but one choice as for their drink order: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Guiness</span>. I had never partaken in the thick creaminess that is a good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Guiness</span>. The fact that it almost needs to be chewed before it can be swallowed is a wonderful one in my opinion. We drank and laughed for a few hours before heading to our hotel for the night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Movie</span><br /><br />The following morning came with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">surprising</span> haste. Before I knew it I was up, in the shower, and out the door. The night before, whilst at the pub, we had tossed around the idea of going to see District 9. That idea, after being tossed, had apparently landed somewhere because its exactly what we did. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">dont</span> intend this post to be a movie review so Ill simply say that I recommend the movie. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">isnt</span> at all what you expect it to be and, in this case, I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">thats</span> a good thing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Wedding (and reception I suppose)</span><br /><br />Before we knew it we were seated in a church with the wedding underway. With it being a catholic wedding it was long. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">dont</span> mind the length, really. If <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">youre</span> going to get married you might as well make a day of it. The reception was after and I got to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">indulge</span> in that pasta salad that had been occupying my thoughts since the previous day and it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">didnt</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">disappoint</span>. I should mention the music selection at this reception. I think it better to give you a short <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">example</span> rather than tell you about it. I went outside the church for a few minutes at one point during the evening. When I walked back in to make my way to the reception hall I heard Animal Collective reverberating off the walls. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Thats</span> the kind of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">play list</span> I want at my wedding.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hazards of Love</span><br /><br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">couldnt</span> stay at the reception for too long due to the ever-present constraints of time. We changed out of our proper clothes and back into our shorts and, at least in my case, band <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">tshirts</span>. After saying our goodbyes to the newlyweds we headed out. It was on our return trip that we engaged in what we had been wanting to for some time now. Prior to the trip, Richard had printed out scripts for us. "Scripts? Scripts for what?" you may be asking. Ill tell you what. It was his idea that we should perform the entire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_hazards_of_love">Hazards of Love</a> album, from beginning to end, each playing a different character and singing their parts. Richard would play the role of Margaret (you have my permission to laugh at this point), Brian would take the role of The Rake, Rob would play the Queen, and I would be playing the roll of William / The Narrator. To onlookers (of which there were, thankfully, none) it may have looked and sounded terrible, but it <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">didnt</span> matter. Singing a duet with Richard who is playing the role of my character's lover will always be hilarious. After our performance had come to an end I found myself looking out the window at the vast number of stars. If Iowa is good for anything, its stars. I fell asleep at some point, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">Im</span> not exactly sure when, but was awoken when we were pulling off to make a pit stop. Brian had to relieve himself, so we pulled into a gas station only to find that it was closed. On our way in we saw a car parked in the corner of the lot and, for whatever reason, pulled up next to it. Luckily for Brian there was a cornfield nearby (Iowa...) so he used that as his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">lavatory</span>. It was then that we noticed the car we saw as we pulled in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">wasnt</span> empty. A man got out of the car and was eyeing us and Brian. We got worried at first, but he got back into his vehicle with no incident. Needless to say we got out of that gas station fairly quickly and continued on our way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Kum</span> & Go</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SpcA89XmdrI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/Ne64iYqoev4/s1600-h/2009-08-21+23.21.47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SpcA89XmdrI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/Ne64iYqoev4/s200/2009-08-21+23.21.47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374765727555679922" border="0" /></a>The next time we stopped was early in the morning at a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Kum</span> & Go (I wish I were making this up). I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">dont</span> know what brought it on, but I had my phone out taking pictures of the station. It was probably the fact that the gas prices made no sense.<br /><br />The rest of our journey was, again, uneventful. We arrived back in Louisville in plenty of time to return the rental car and went our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">separate</span> ways. If you take nothing else away from this (long and drawn out) tale, take this: if you want <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">everyday</span> items as well as designer jeans at discount prices, South Dakota is the place for you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span>~*The End*~</span>Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-11776027567249283182009-08-25T21:47:00.004-04:002009-08-25T21:59:24.445-04:00A Mourning Rain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/102/l_7bff0e432e4e431db7cbe8ecef83b84f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 450px;" src="http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/102/l_7bff0e432e4e431db7cbe8ecef83b84f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />EVERYONE!<br /><br />For any of you stumbling upon this blog, I have a link for you. Our friends from "<a href="http://www.myspace.com/amourningrain">A Mourning Rain</a>" have made their way on to iTunes.<br /><br />The link to your extreme satisfaction shall be posted below. Enjoy.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=324644813&id=324644554&s=143441&uo=6">Neither He Who Plants Nor He Who Waters Is Anything</a><br /><br />"...take us home my Lord..."Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-13837057443068672152009-08-23T18:04:00.001-04:002009-08-27T23:06:57.435-04:00The Dakotas, mostly of the 'south' variety.<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I plan on writing something here about our trip to South Dakota, but as I am still in South Dakota and </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dont</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> have a lot of time it will have to wait until later. I guess Ill just use this as a place holder.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">See everyone in a few days!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">p.s. there are over 11,000 songs on this computer, I might see if I cant unplug it and take it with me...good work </span><del style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Andi</del><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> Tony.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Part One</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Trip</span><br /><br />It has recently been brought to my attention that some have been waiting patiently for a recounting of the events from my journey to the great state of South Dakota. I say recently only because I have just as recently returned. So, without further delay, I shall tell you the tale of our peregrination.<br /><br />It started out like any road trip, really. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didnt</span> have anything packed on the day we were supposed to be leaving, which had to be remedied after I got off work. We set out that night at around 10. We were to take turns driving along the way so as no one of us would have to do more or less. Richard started us off and we headed north toward Indianapolis. It was around there that the rain started. It was light at first, nothing more than a sprinkle, then it started to get heavier. Before we knew it we were caught in the middle of a torrential downpour. Of course there was also construction, and the traffic that is almost always associated with it, to deal with. While driving through one particularly precarious area of highway with concrete walls on both sides, being constantly blinded by sheets of rain, a semi coming the other way hit a puddle just on the other side of the wall from us. We could see it coming. An enormous amount of water shot over the wall and hit us directly. It would do me little good to tell you that we were instantly blinded (even more so than normal) and petrified. There were several seconds, seated in the passenger seat, when I just accepted the fact that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wouldnt</span> be making it out of this situation alive. Due to divine <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">providence</span>, however, we did survive and continued west.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Rabbit</span><br /><br />It was at this point that people had started to fall asleep. Richard and I were in the front, listening to various songs, I trying to keep him awake and vice <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">versa</span>. The stretch of freeway we were riding down was a dark one (it was well into the night at this point), so our headlights were our only guide. From the median, I saw a flash. It was a white flash, with black spots, unless mine eyes deceived me. A rabbit! It all happened in a split second. I saw the rabbit, mid leap, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">disappear</span> into the front of our car. Yes, there was a thump. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wasnt</span> a loud one, mind you, but it was distinct and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">unmistakable</span>. It took us (Richard and myself) several seconds to take the situation in. We both sat, straight-faced, staring off into the black that was the freeway ahead of us. After those seconds had passed I had to ask the question. <span style="font-style: italic;">"...what was that?"</span> It was like someone flipped a switch and we both started laughing uncontrollably. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Im</span> still not sure what exactly made the situation as hilarious as it was, but I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">havent</span> laughed that hard in a long time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Iowa 80</span><br /><br />Our driving schedule being the way it was, it was my turn to drive between the hours of 1:45 and 5:15. We stopped at a gas station and made the switch. We were somewhere in Illinois at this point and, in my time in the captain's chair, we would finish the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">remaining</span> distance of it and start on Iowa. Peoria was the first (and only) "major" city I hit. The parenthetical and quotation in the previous sentence should give you some idea as to the size of it. I was in and out in a matter of minutes (no, Tabitha). It was a pretty place lit up at night, which is about all it had going for it. The highway system running through it was surely nothing to write home about. It was like an indecisive snake. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">didnt</span> know where it wanted to go and eventually just spit me out somewhere. The rest of Illinois was dark and flat. I really <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">dont</span> have any other adjectives to describe it. Boring springs to mind, but if I used the word boring in this post to describe every state that truly <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> boring on this trip, it would populate the majority of the text. Entering Iowa was uneventful, I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">didnt</span> even see the sign. Most of the time spent in Iowa I could see a bright white light on the horizon. There were many like it that we would see from time to time, but this one was almost constant. Finally, after what felt like hours, I saw what it was. It was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_80">'Iowa 80</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_80">'</a>. Apparently, the Iowa 80 is the worlds largest truck stop. At least <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">thats</span> what the sign said. I was honestly astounded at the sheer number of trucks. It seemed like an endless sea of trailers, all lined in neat rows like the corn I had been passing this whole time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SpISpsqcK9I/AAAAAAAAAFw/9Tp_SvN2Ews/s1600-h/2009-08-20+06.51.46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7repZJeUiX8/SpISpsqcK9I/AAAAAAAAAFw/9Tp_SvN2Ews/s200/2009-08-20+06.51.46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373377812979526610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Miscalculation</span><br /><br />5:15 came quicker than I expected. We pulled off at another station (the first of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Kum</span> & Gos I believe) and switched off. It was Robs turn. Anyone else hear those warning sirens in the distance? In spite of my reservations, I went to sleep. I awoke a few hours later, sunrise to my left. If anyone has been keeping track, when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">youre</span> headed to South Dakota you usually want to be headed either west or north. Neither of which would allow a sunrise to be on my left. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">didnt</span> realize this, of course, because I was still in a somewhat comatose state. There were rumblings, map readings, and a whole lot of pointing. It <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">wasnt</span> until we pulled off at an exit that I found that we were going the wrong way. We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">hadnt</span> been heading that way for too long so, in the end, it turned out to be something we just laughed about the rest of the way. Of course when I say 'we' I mean everyone but Rob.<br /><br />Having just gotten some fantastic advice ("You could always just do part 1 and part 2") I shall leave you here. A bit of a cliff-hanger, as it were.Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521742225194140296.post-6231555438943295002009-08-13T21:22:00.004-04:002009-08-14T00:12:30.820-04:00A week?!Has it truly been a week since last I sent forth my thoughts to run a-muck on these pages? So it would seem.<br /><br />It was a weekend filled with frivolity of many sorts, not the least of which were two performances of some note.<br /><br />Saturday was a typical 'wake up and go play <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">airsoft</span>' day. When we were done frolicking on the woods, however, we headed downtown to see a friend of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mine's</span> band (<a href="http://www.myspace.com/amourningrain">A Mourning Rain</a>) play.<br /><br />Honestly, and to my everlasting shame, I had never seen them play before. Holy crap. I guess Ill start at the beginning so as to not leave anything unsaid. We made our way downtown to the little coffee shop in the late afternoon. It was a muggy day, to be sure. Upon our arrival at said coffee shop the bands front (and rather handsome) man greeted us with some disheartening news. They would not be playing when they had originally planned. One of the people that was to be playing at this particular show had backed out then, at the last minute, decided that he would like to play after all. After much grumbling on all our parts we decided to walk around looking for a gas station until the time came for the show to start. Approximately two bands later, we arrived back at the coffee shop with time to spare. We made our way inside the shop (sans air conditioning) and found a place to stand. Sounds checked and mics in place, they started to play. I had heard their album and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thoroughly</span> enjoyed it, but seeing it live was a completely different affair. Any band that can have me take my belt off in the middle of their set so that I may play along with one of their songs gets a hearty thumbs up in my book. If your travels ever bring you to Louisville, I cannot <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">recommend</span> these kids highly enough. Go see them.<br /><br />The following day was a typical wake up, head to church, out to eat, kind of day. Somewhere in the mix we decided that it may be a good idea to go see a movie. GI Joe was the original choice (I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wasnt</span> the biggest fan of this idea). Eventually it became clear that everyone would rather see "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/">(500) Days of Summer</a>". Let me just state here and now that this is, without a doubt, one of the best movies I have ever seen in my life. I tend to say that about a lot of things. "This is the best _______ Ive ever had in my life", "That is the greatest _________ I have ever heard in my life", etc. This movie, though, really does fall into that category. Obvious things first, the acting was great, the humor was perfect for us indie nerds, and the soundtrack was incredible. The story is happy and sad all at one time. Its hard to explain, really. Its definitely worth whatever a movie ticket costs these days. Go see it.<br /><br />Monday was the day I had been waiting for for a long, long time. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_decemberists">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Decemberists</span></a> came to town and my excitement could only be matched by that of a young child come Christmas morn. I worked early that day so I would have time to make it to the venue. I arrived at the theater with plenty of time to wander around. I found the tour buses but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wasnt</span> near man enough to stand, tip-toed, to see in the window hoping to spot a passing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_meloy">Colin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Meloy</span></a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shara_worden">Shara Worden</a>. I went inside and spotted the '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">merch</span> table'. It was the perfect opportunity, as I had arrived more than an hour early, and there were hardly any patrons there purchasing wares. I bought a t-shirt (a rather awesome t-shirt if I do say so myself) only to find out later that the only other people that purchased this same shirt were females. Not letting this realization get me down, time passed quickly and it was soon time to head in for the show. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">theater</span> was smaller than I thought, which was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">advantageous</span> as we were seated in the balcony yet still had great seats. The opening act was a band called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Pilot">Blind Pilot</a>. If <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">youre</span> reading this and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">havent</span> yet heard Blind Pilot I cant <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">recommend</span> them highly enough. As they only have one album I knew every song they played but one which, as it turns out, was a new song. Imagine that.<br /><br />Then the time had finally arrived. The roadies were testing equipment and setting out instruments. A lot of instruments. I mean...a <span style="font-style: italic;">LOT</span> of instruments. The set began with Jenny coming out to her organ to play the introduction. Other dark silhouettes made there way out, each to a roar of applause. The bespectacled Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Meloy</span> came into view and I thought, if only for a moment, that I might faint. And so it began. They played the entire Hazards of Love album from beginning to end. No stopping, no breaks, just one song right into the other. It was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">truly</span> a sight to behold. After the album was finished and the cheers erupted, we were instructed to stay where we were because they would be returning for yet another set. In my seat I sat, or rather I stood because I was on too much of a high to sit down. Thirty minutes passed in the blink of an eye and they were back for more. This time it was more like a concert you would expect. In between playing songs, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Colin</span> would be telling us stories or any number of other hilarious things. We heard many of our old favorites, a Yankee Bayonet duet with Shara (definitely one of the highlights of my life), and a new song which was fantastic (no surprise there). They even did a Heart cover. The night was topped off by The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Decemberist</span> Family Players telling us the tragic tale of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Seabiscuit</span>. Basically it was a story made up entirely off <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Colins</span> head that ended with a giant meteor striking the Kentucky Derby and destroying the entire state as well as most of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">continental</span> United States.<br /><br />Honestly, I have never been to a better concert in my life, and Ive been to some good concerts. The only show that may be better is when I go see them again in October (or should I say "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">ROCKTOBER</span>!!"). Go see them!<br /><br />All in all it was a pretty great weekend. I got to see some friends that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">dont</span> get to see all the time, even make new ones, and I got to go to some great concerts.<br /><br />And now <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">theres</span> news of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufjan_stevens"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Sufjan</span> Stevens</a> in September?! <span style="font-style: italic;">YES PLEASE!</span> Its my month for goodness sake!Kurtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01169386478000763400noreply@blogger.com0