I Was Totally Destroying It - LBLB - Tir Na Nog - 03/24/11

You sick of IWTDI and Gray Young reviews yet? TOO BAD. I WARNED YOU.

I know I've done several entries in a row that were intensely personal, almost like diary entries, but again... I WARNED YOU. maybe this is why people aren't really turning to me for true show reviews; just my friends seeing what I had to say. and maybe all this will turn into some fucked up memoirs for a book one day... "A Year in the Triangle Music Scene, Durrr" by Karla Anne... Sounds good to me. It's certainly not full of journalistic integrity so far, is it? Just a lot of me rambling about personal growth and art for art's sake. That's how I do. and if you want the real technical review of the shows, look to the right for the Blogroll.

Digression aside, more personal confessions instead of technical perspectives ahead: One of the things I like best in life are surprises. I LOVE SURPRISES. In any capacity. Surprise parties, a postcard when you weren't expecting it, a cute puppy coming around the corner who is dying to be your new friend; on any and all levels: I love when life isn't what you expected it to be. And in the same vein, what i *really* love is when someone isn't what you expected them to be, and more importantly when someone has a place in your life and in your heart you never expected them to hold.

One other thing I love in life: recognizing signs and coincidences, taking absolutely nothing for granted and relishing every second, (even the terrible and boring ones,) of this life as a gift. I sometimes dub myself "Queen of Perspective". I love putting the pieces of my life together. I love playing the six degrees of separation in events and people and moments that brought me and my friends and lovers together. I love recognizing and appreciating the butterfly effect of my precious moments on this earth that lead me to the ones I have chosen to share these moments with. I love life; the sacredness, the fragility, the urgency, the shitstorm, the gift.

That being said: 1) I met James the day before I met James. 2) And when I met James he was not the person James actually is... IWTDI did the U2 show at TNN and I met James and then the very next night I met James at Whiskey. When I first officially met and spoke with him, I pegged him as a hippie but then I got to know him and he's someone so complex that it defies a label. He's somewhere between a hippie/missionary/radical/egomaniac/shit stirrer/lionheart/asshole/saint; other than myself, he's probably one of the more fucked up, complicated, beautiful people i've known in my real life. I don't carry a flame for James, I carry an inferno... One of those crazy damn oil well fire hurricanes like in that John Wayne movie "Hellfighters." I love James. but that's the thing; EVERYONE loves James. but this isn't the James Hepler Fan Club, I'm just trying to partly explain why every time IWTDI plays, I see IWTDI.

Ok, Now THAT being said: Through my getting to know James, I got to know the rest of the gang. I got to know the well oiled machine of IWTDI. The dynamics. The heartbeat. the drama... I got to know the songs so well. I got to know the reasons and the meanings and I found myself getting songs stuck in my head. I found myself recruiting more and more people to check them out; dragging friends to shows, etc. I am beyond proud of this band, I know too well that very soon they are going to be huge. HUGE.

This show was probably one of my more favorite shows... random reasons; I was in a great mood, the new songs are so good, it was the kickoff of their tour, i was with the right people, the sound guy was on point, I was seeing one of my favorite bands. The crowd around us were a little tame, but the room was packed. I didn't notice really because i was dancing my ass off and having a blast. Roo had to tell me later that most people "weren't even moving". I didn't notice, because I was. A lot.

So as I said, the new songs, off the new album Preludes, they are on a whole different level from what we've heard from them before. The first couple releases are good, yes. This is something different. Preludes is hitting that point of depth and fullness that I absolutely need to devote myself to a sound. If i had walked in, note unheard, to this show at TNN and never heard the band before, didn't love them the way I do on such a personal, completely biased level, I would have told you the same thing: this was one of the best sounding shows I've heard/seen in months. and the funny thing is I heard the new songs live at the Redress, but there was some sort of energy and perfection to this performance. Maybe they were riding high after the SXSW trip, but I really think IWTDI has found their moment. I am only expecting them to come home superstars.

So they just released a new video for Fight/Flight, as I briefly mentioned last week. This song, as I said, I'd heard it live once or twice before, took on a whole different personality for me Thursday night. There was an intensity, a heartbreak, a fire under it's belly. It was one of those rare instances when seeing a show live where an otherwise non-weepy song hit me in just the right way and I got the goose bumps and my eyes welled up. It was during this song I knew, i knew... my friends are rock gods. my friends are amazing. I cant even being to describe to you how much they deserve it and how much i love them.

Hellfighters, baby.

Gratuitous Friend Promotion, We love I Was Totally Destroying It!

My incredibly talented, beautiful and courageous friends, I Was Totally Destroying It, have released the official music video for their (my favorite so far) song, "Fight/Flight" off of their new album Preludes (Out 4/12/11 on Greyday Records - available now for pre-order!) IWTDI is now on a whirlwind tour across the country promoting the new album - definitely check them out if you get the chance!

Visit Under the Radar to see the video NOW!

Raleigh ReDress Benefit with Wesley Wolfe, Bright Young Things and I Was Totally Destroying It - King's - 03/05/11

I have a vested interest in the band I am going to now review for you. When I first posted about the conversion of the blog to reviews, I promised you would see lots of Gray Young (noted) and These guys... I Was Totally Destroying It... My loves, my friends. I am so emotionally invested in the success of this band that I had to seek council to negotiate a level of personal asides I was or was not allowed to digress into. I have decided the best route is terse honesty. The people that know me IRL know what's up so I don't need to explain. Short answer: I love these guys.

Here is how i found the band... and I am suddenly realizing that although it was over a week ago that I saw their last show, I have subconsciously waited until today, St Patrick's Day, to write my review of it; coincidentally I saw them perform exactly one year ago in the incarnation that sealed the deal of my love for them... I Was Totally Destroying U2. J.Booker is probably one of the top 3 biggest U2 fans, besides myself that I've ever met. I'm not here to tell you about that show, but I have to squish about it a little. Seeing IWTDI do the U2 show is as close to the real thing (ha) as one could get if only for the reason that they have obsessively watched and studied enough live shows to throw in all those random ad-libs and asides from ancient shows that only the true fans know. The first time I saw them do it, (the night before the U2 show at Carter Finley in 2009) I almost went wild with kindred-ness. I had found my people! IWTDI are U2 fans, and that certainly helps in any attempt to "cover" a band, but what makes their interpretation is the professionalism. There are no mistakes. That is the secret of IWTDI in any incarnation; especially as their true selves... These guys are PRO-FESS-ION-ELLL.

I probably know way more about the history and mechanics of this band than any other band. I am not here to bio the band, but I do want to elaborate on the perfection of the structure... So sure, John and Rachel share the LV spot, but that's the thing - there is no standout superstar in IWTDI. they are all superstars, there is equality and balance. I don't know if it's because of the U2 connection I have with them, but just how i feel about The Boys, (there would be no U2 if any member of U2 were to leave the band,) But IWTDI would not be themselves without every single member of this band. It's a perfect balance, They work so well together that if one were to move the others fall into place. There is no IWTDI without Joe, Curtis, Rachel, John or James. I have watched this band pay dues after dues, playing shows to 12 and playing shows to thousands; and it's an added bonus for me to be sat here writing this as they are playing at SXSW right now. I'm beyond proud. Beyond any level of ecstatic than i could express at their success. I can't think of any group of people i respect artistically, professionally, musically and personally that deserve it more. I love these guys. Big love. Big, big love.

There is so much I could elaborate on my connection to these guys, but long-time readers will know how to find the stories so there is no need for redundancy. It's been a long year full of lots of incredible shows, some awkward shows, some secretly attended shows, but i was there. I was there for all of them. I will always support and love this band. So they come to my King's? Of course I'll be there... Of course!

Raleigh Redress is "an ecologically conscious and forward thinking fashion show that challenges designers to think about impact on the environment in the development of their concept. Redress aims to showcase eco-friendly designers with accessible and innovative collections that show “green” is in all aspects of life, including fashion." (from their site, obvs) I don't personally know any of the designers this year, but i totally support the cause. I'm no eco-hippy, but I'm all for this idea. I was only more than happy to donate to the event by attending a show i would have gone to see anyway! ha! I dragged Hillary and Shawn along and my dear God, we had a blast. 99% of the time the show i see is directly affected by the company I keep. Just so happened I was seeing a show I would have loved, regardless.

Wesley Wolfe: I didn't stick around too much for. I did like what i heard, but I was having an off ear-night, and the acoustics were rough on me. I didn't have enough drink in me to tolerate the really really loudness of it. and if you know me, to say "this band was too loud", you know they were LOUD.

Bright Young Things: This is a band I've seen a couple times now and I have a budding interest in. I don't want to be completely superficial, but ooooh lordy, the LV is beautiful. And the closer you get to the stage, the prettier he gets. But okay I promise, that's not the only draw, they are adorable! And by adorable i mean their music is totally adorable. I don't mean to get all girly, but almost every song is like running in a sun-blinded wheat field wearing a sundress chasing butterflies. Every song is like the most adorable "falling in love" quirky montage in a Ben Stiller Rom-com. Somebody soon is going to pick up on this and these guys are going to get big, quick. I'm calling it now. BYT = famous soon. very soon.

IWTDI = already famous. or am i biased? I am biased. and also i am right. This show featured songs from the new album that I wasn't too familiar with (YET) but executed perfectly. That is the thing people need to know about this band, the level of dedication, the sacrifices made, the jobs quit, the dues paid, the time and money invested. You don't get to the point where they have now finally reached without the work they've put into it; and i can promise you, there may not be a harder working band in the triangle that I know of. and I know a lot of local bands. They went on a little late this night, so the crowd thinned out but they didn't seem to mind and played their hearts out, as per usual. So the show was stellar, as per usual. My pride and love was off the charts, as per usual. I'm tempted to gush, but I will refrain. and I will tell you once again, I Was Totally Destroying It are going to be the next big thing out of this town. I'm so glad I get to one day say I knew them when. Love you, guys!!! xoxo