She Likes It

ho boy

So, whilst looking through the goings ons around Seattle, I found out that Trans Am is playing in Cap. Hill on Monday.  I would tell you something about the band, but the one time I went to see them play was in Orlando a million years ago and the first time (not the only time, to my undying shame) that I was so tired/drunk/fucked up that I fell asleep during the show.  Plus, that place had a, what seemed to me at the time, comfortable couch on which to sleep.

I think that might have been the first time I ever met JJ and what a trip that was.  We must have traveled half the state of Florida and stayed in a castle hotel which had a fire alarm go off at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m.  and we got to hang with my grandma a little and those are just the highlights.

However, that trip had nothing on the one I just got back from.  Oh yeah, about a week ago, I went to VA Beach to attend an old HS friend's wedding.  The other 4 of us from the HS days converged upon a beach house and proceded to do what we do best...which is apparently getting wasted and asking awkward questions.  A good time was had by all.  Well, I'm assuming...heh heh...but just look at these pictures (after the jump) and tell me that we weren't having fun.

Wonka Vision

Is it wrong that every time I look at this picture (stolen, by the way, from Seattlest):

I laugh?

Probably, but come on now, Auto Shop did not do himself any PR favors in his last game of his college career.  Hopefully, those who have the opportunity to play in this year's tournament will conduct themselves with more class.  Not that it would be hard to beat this guy.

And speaking of, as everyone - even silly non-college basketball watchers - knows, The Tournament starts this week. I am tres excited.

In other news, the ambitious rip all cds in the house except that awful cd I got on the street outside of the Mountain Goats concert onto my very impressive and totally awesome 400 gig harddrive (RACITHETACIGOTSOOTMGCOMVIATAFGHD for short) is coming to a close.  That's right, I only have one cd wallet with about 10 more cds in it to go.  Yay!  Soon I will have all of my cds available for browsing on the TV for playing or shuffling without having to go through the terrible inconvenience of getting up off my ass and looking at cds, picking one out, opening the case and blah blah blah.  God, I'm so lazy.  Or NOT, since I have practically worn out my cd drive, ripping cds. Also? I have produced a diagram so you can see our new set up in the apartment.  Even though the apartment is almost smaller than my office.  Behold! My MS Paint skillz that you have missed witnessing so much:

That dashed line there is supposed to represent the wirelessness of the computer to Xbox setup, if you couldn't tell.  So when we've got this going you can see a million tiny pieces of chocolatemusic floating through the air from the computer room to the living room. It's a TV Dinner! Ahem. I mean, it's super cool. 

And that, my friends, is what is going down around here (aka Geek City).

More Portland love and Wolfmother

The weekend before last, Beard Boy and I went down to Portland to see the Wolfmother show. We had planned on seeing them up here in Seattle, but we did what we are so so good at - procrastinating - and the show sold out.  In our defense, I think it sold out pretty quickly, but still.  Upon figuring out that tickets to the Portland show were still available, we thought this was a good excuse for BB to finally take the train down and see the awesomeness that is our sister city to the south.

First, let me gush about how much I freakin love the Seattle-Portland train. Half-hour wait times in the station - as opposed to check-in 2 hours before take off. Friendly and funny conductors. Being able to get up and move around.  Big seats. The view. They even have more recent movies playing on the train than they do in the plane.  I love it.  Plus, the Portland station is in town as is Seattle's.  Oh and did I mention that it's $62 round-trip?  Totally cheap. 

Anyway, we got into town, cabbed to our hotel (and spa, la-la-la), had a very rich meal at the hotel restaurant, and then headed back to downtown for the show.  I must say that I was a little put off by the cleanliness and bright lights of the front of the Roseland.  Not to mention the patting down and the metal detector.  But once we got up to the balcony (where the bar is), I was placated.  I have very strong opinions about venue size and I think the Roseland is just right. For reference, I also like the Newport down in Columbus, the Showbox here in Seattle and the Black Cat out in DC, to name a few. Not liking? Anything with amphitheater or outdoor in its name or skinny little weird places that make it impossible to see or move or drink your beer without spilling. 

I can't remember who the first opener ... oh wait, Simon Dawes!  After the way they drilled that name into the audience, I don't know how that could have slipped my mind. Local band, I assume.  They were fun.  The Silversun Pickups who have been touring with Wolfmother were next and can I just tell you that from where we were sitting it looked like Muffin had taken up bass and joined a band. I turned and looked at BB and said, "Look it's Muffin's non-evil twin!"

Before I go on to the headliners, let me say two things:

1. After seeing Jet live a couple of years ago, I have been hesitant to see a band with only one album under their belt. The Jet show was saved by touring partners and completely awesome band, Sloan, but I was still a little worried.
2. Holy crap there were so many people blazing up (hee-hee, I love that phrase) my eyes hurt.

Which is just to say that I had cautiously high hopes for the show and was most likely high from second hand smoke. That said, the show was maybe the most fun show I've seen in a while. The band was tight and the crowd, all of it, was 100% into the show. Okay, maybe not the two people I saw who hilariously smoked too much and fell asleep, but the other 99.9% were loving every minute. And the fro! My God that thing was amazing. Did you ever see that movie Ice Pirates? Oh wait, hold on. Imdb to the rescue. Dang! No pictures.  I guess you'll just have to take my word for it. 

Usually my most fun show of the year award goes to the Woggles, but the garage tour they did earlier in the year was disappointing, they only played for 30 minutes! Plus, this crowd was no Seattle, coax me into bobbing my head crowd.  I wonder if this has anything to do with the town. If so, I can see why a lot of musicians are packing up and moving down there. I would love to hear how the sold out show was here in Seattle.

After the show ended we went to a neighboring bar and played some pool until close.  Which may or may not have been a mistake.  When I woke up the next morning, my head HURT.  We planned on skipping our Portland tour and taking an earlier train up which didn't happen as they were sold out.  So, we ended up walking around Portland and having a nice coffee at a bakery and later having some hair of the dog at the Life of Reilly Tavern.  If you get to Portland and are feeling poorly, stop in there for their tomato soup and grilled cheese. It might just cure what ails you.  Plus, the barkeep is a very friendly guy.

It's official, I'm a dork

So I just interviewed the lead singer (The Professor) of my favorite band, The Woggles and God, I'm a dork.  I'm going to write up the thing for the metblogs, but can I just bitch a moment about how my God Damned Stupid recorder did NOT record the interview effectively?  Or about how I didn't ask any intelligent questions.  I'm annoyed.  Annoyed I say!  Perhaps I will make up for it by being a super groupie when they come to town next week.  Yeah, probably not. They will know me for what I am, an incredibly big dork. I guess I better just accept that and own it.

In other news, I am very very excited that Bumbershoot is this weekend and I'll be among the throngs seeing Blondie on Saturday. Blondie for fecks sake!  WoooHooo!  It's going to be very hard to choose my video tomorrow, I'm sure.

Stressing out: CD Club

So I belong to a CD club and I'm starting to stress the fuck out. Normally, I wouldn't care, but this particular CD club is being "run" by my friend J.Mo, who is a music hound AND everyone else in it is WAY hipper than I am. I mean, for Christ's Sake, there's a former Lush band member on the roll.

My month is March, so I have to start thinking about my theme. Here are my thoughts so far:

1. Pretend I'm hip:  Local Seattle bands even though my knowledge of that is minimal at best
2. Pretend I used to be hip: Bands from the year I graduated HS (since it's a reunion year and I know JMo from HS)
3. Embrace my lameness: Bands that hipsters have tossed away like yesterday's junk mail but that I still like (i.e. Coldplay)
4. Embrace my lameness 2: Songs from CDs I have purchased this year
5. Confuse everyone: French Pop Songs
6. Have both kinds: Country and Western

Opinions? Thoughts? Snarky insults?

Catching up from the weekend

I inherited many things besides my lack of balance from my parents (and oh yes, I got that from them, eh, falling off the bus in Stockholm Mommy?). Some of them I should try hard to subvert. For instance, the never-getting-off-my-butt-and-going-to-the-God-Damned-post-office gene. I am TERRIBLE at sending crap in the mail. For real. I have about 100 presents and cards stockpiled in my home including a sweet birthday card for Emily featuring The Rock that's going to have to wait until next year (or maybe the year after, knowing me).

Why do you care, you may be asking? Well, this is my excuse a long story to explain why it took me so long to FINALLY get the Hangover Contest prize out the mail. Today. After 100 years.

Anyway. Congrats Leesepea for submitting the winning Xanadu scene. I hope the prize is worth the wait. And if not, I hope you lie and say it is.

In other news, Saturday, Beard Boy and I went out to the Funhouse to see The Woggles. Here are the stories (DUN-DUN, you know, like at the end of the Law and Order opening monologue):

7 days and counting

After 452 days, my walking streak has ended. Yes, last Thursday I fell down. I could blame the two gin martinis. I could blame the equipment (shoe) change in the middle of a buzz. Or I could blame the fact that I was probably asking for it by blogging about how I hadn't fallen down. Nothing, however, will change the fact that I was 278 days short of the two year mark. Not even close!

I may have to give up on that motorcycle after all. But no! I will not be bested by knee-scabs and balance issues. I will take this one day at a time. I will take baby-steps. I will delay that roller skate order...Well, maybe not. I do want some sweet roller skates like I had when I was 12. Oh, you betcha! How much cooler are those than in-line skates? Are you with me?!

In other super news, there are 9 days until The Woggles come to town. According to their tour calendar, they are currently in California but will be playing in Seattle at the Funhouse (Saturday) and the Sunset Tavern (Sunday) next weekend. My sister promises that my old crush won't mistake me for a groupie (even though I am) and will (pretend) to remember I'm his friend's wife's sister. I guess I better leave the skates at home so I don't embarrass her...Or should I?

Help me out here

Let me preface this with the fact that I know I'm no hipster. I'm never on the cutting edge of music - unless JMo or Emily or the Economist are involved.  In any case, here's my dilemma:

I like the White Stripes. I dislike large, outdoor venues.

The White Stripes are playing this Saturday at the Gorge for $39.50.

Should I go?  Please vote.