Birds of Avalon CD Release Party with The Cellar Seas and Lonnie Walker - King's - 02/26/11

(forewarning: this post is super pic-heavy. Too many good shots to resist! There were many, many more. Find me on facebook to see the rest!)
 

Sometimes the planets just align and the Gods of Rock shine upon thee and a spectacular night of amazing friends and intensely good music just... happen. Saturday was one of my favorite nights out in yonks... could be the people I was running wild with, could be seeing some favorite bands, could be the decadently perfect period of time in my life. I'm learning not to question when good things happen, lying in bed trying to justify the karmic blessings i receive, I'm trying to just let them happen and be grateful.

The night began at Mecca, which as someone who grew up inside the beltline Raleigh (there are like 4 of us, i swear,) and having a dad who worked his entire career on Fayetteville Street, it still baffles and amuses me that Mecca has turned into a "spot". This place looks and smells the exact same way it has since i first went there almost 30 years ago. bizarro. Next it'll be something even weirder, like, "hey all the cool kids are hanging out at the M&F Bank!" wtf. okay. Ever since we "lost" Neptune's, the jackpot alumni club still searches for a place to belong. Mecca will do for now. although, let me reiterate... IT IS WEIRD.

The Cellar Seas... another one of those instances where i am so excited to see my friends succeeding in a band that it almost eclipses the music. Almost. I am so excited to see B.Shaw playing out that my pride vomits all over my thrift store shoes. I want to digress into a "I have no real reason to adore Brian Shaw as much as I do, but I do. Here is why" diatribe. How did i meet BShaw? Jackpot, i reckon. He is the Rob Gordon of Raleigh. So much so it really confuses me that he didn't work with us at Record Exchange. I haven't met anyone else who hoards and autistically categorizes vinyl the way i do except some old ex-coworkers and BShaw. BShaw has an air of superiority over him that seems misplaced, but apt. If you didn't know him you would think he was such a pretentious ass, but the truth is he is a quirky, nice, goofy guy with really obscurely awesome taste in music. which segues into my next BShaw bit: Jackpot DJ. The Alumni has a little joke about him... "No one can clear a dance floor like BShaw." Brian shaw plays music for Brian Shaw when he dj's. if you know the song (you probably won't) then you may dance, if not, tough titties. he really could care less. Unlike Meuller, however, with enough constant pressure and pestering and drunken pleading Brian Shaw can occasionally be convinced to play Kate Bush. /Digression. Long and Short, I really liked Cellar Seas, but as per yooshe, I can't tell if it's because I'm so excited to see my friends follow their dreams or because I like the LV's voice so much. Speaking of which, the LV is a guy I have seen around town for approximately 744 years, but as of yet still have never introduced myself. Hey guy; i like your voice quite a bit. I'm definitely going to be making an effort to see the guys again when the opportunity presents itself.

Lonnie Walker; In my little heart I feel like I've reviewed LW a thousand times, when the truth is more like never. But the confusion lies in this: members of LW are in so many other bands, one. Two, I have seen LW play about 40 times. (ps I always exaggerate, have you guys figured this out yet? I think I have seen LW about 8 times.) So having seen them so many times, it might be a scenario of me assuming everyone knows how i feel about them. But you know what they say when you assume; you make as ass of karla anne. If you don't, I will. I will almost always make an ass of myself, assumptions or no. Mostly you can assume I don't care either way.

Lonnie Walker Superfan!!

I have never not enjoyed a Lonnie Walker show. But the thing is this; I have never seen LW as the opening band. They always seem to be in the exact right spot before every band I'm really psyched to be seeing when i see them... Lonnie Walker has inadvertently become my own personal Hype Man for Triangle shows. They are the Flavor Flav of Raleigh. Or like Bez with the Happy Mondays... Or like BP Fallon hanging around in a Trabant circa ZooTV. (obscure U2 reference for my peeps! wahoo!) When I see LW on a bill, I always know it's going to be a show I am really excited  to see and that LW will get me really excited before whoever is going on after them. I am personally putting out to the universe at this point that the time of Lonnie Walker has come; they are certainly catchy and fun, full of energy and they never disappoint - Dear Universe, it is time to make Lonnie Walker the headliners. I got your back, bring it on!

Birds of Avalon; am I biased? Of course i am biased. Is it because I see Mr. Mueller and Paul what seems every day of my life at some point (exaggerating) or because it was at one of their shows about 800 years ago (exaggerating again) when i remember very consciously thinking "wow, I am really going to make an effort to go to and support local music from now on, this is too good!" ... all of thee above. also, BoA is one of those random local bands that pop up on my ipod (a la veelee or gray young or heads on sticks [ha!]) that i always have to look down and confirm that Yes, I actually know people in real life that impress me this much. Also I really like on the band wiki there is the big spiel about the whole "this band pretty much owns King's." I dunno why i like to forget this. The fact that Paul saved Raleigh via King's isn't the only reason we love BoA. we love this band because they put on a really flipping Pro Show, they always bring some heavy energy and the crowd loves them. ((addendum: I was just outside Cup a Joe having a smoke, waiting for the pics to load thinking about this part, and realized I wanted to add an honest to God big thank you to Paul for bringing back King's. We all missed it, we all needed it. And now we don't have to drive to Crapple Hill every time we want to see a decent show. Bless You. then I was thinking all karla-like and was all "man, we should throw a party in his honor to say thank you." and then i realized this is every night on Martin Street. Every show at King's is a great big THANK YOU.))

I was also given a special gift this night from the universe. I have a special quest to seek out and document every band I see's Superfan; it amuses me. I was right up front, in full Mueller view, hanging with Trent and Michele when suddenly I realized; I wasn't standing with just Michele and her husband; I WAS STANDING WITH MICHELE AND THE SUPERFAN! oh hell yes.

TRENT BOWLES - SUPERFAN!

This is a shot of me suddenly realizing trent was in fact, The Superfan. Complete Amusement.

Later, after the show, Michele and I were chatting with Paul. I gave him the whole (not sober) gushing "OMG U GUISE R SO GOOOD!" hug and what-not. I said "dammit why didn't you play another song?" to which Paul replied, "We'd have to go write one first." god. damned. brilliant.

completely unrelated aside: Pre-BoA; roo, michele and I went to Capital Club. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

So I don't mean to be completely crass (all the time) but in an effort to fully articulate my passion in this fact, I must be so;

I FUCKING LOVE MY FRIENDS.

IAmDynamite, Some guys, Some other guys - LBLB - 02/24/11

(okay technically: IAmDynamite, Rocket Surgeon and River City Ransom)

I am currently trudging through one of the busiest, best times in my life. Show after show scattered with practicing with my band (aka jay) for our first official show, working two jobs, keeping up with friends and family and feeling an overall sense of accomplishment, ecstasy and exhaustion. I realized last night on my way to the first of three nights in a row i will be at king's for shows i am anxiously thrilled to see that i am now 4 reviews behind. One could take this as a sign of faltering resolve or as i prefer to put it, "dang y'all. I'm tired." any chance I've gotten to write I have instead found myself comatose on the couch covered in fat cat and dozing off to HGTV. So here I am, catching up! Don't lose faith, my dears!

Roo sent me a link to one of the bands playing at LBLB, IAMDYNAMITE and said basically, "Hey I think you're gonna like these guys." Sounded decent and I had a feeling it was going to be one of those bands that was technically good on-album but once you see them live it'll sound 1000% better when you go back to cd (how does that happen? Theories, anyone?)

In true "Oh FFS WKNC, get your shit together" fashion, The band billed as headliners (or so we thought?) went first. Roo wasn't even there yet, and I had to send him the "the band we came to see is playing now" text which, since the double barrel debacle, I really never wanted to have to send again. He hauled ass over and we caught the last handful of songs together.

Oh poor little WKNC, quit effing up. You let a band that should've played to a capacity crowd play to the stragglers and a room of curious bystanders. As IAmDynamite played, more and more folks wandered over; like when someone starts yelling "FIGHT! FIGHT!" in a middle school cafeteria; albeit not at such a voracious speed, but there was a definite sense of "haaay sooo... what's all this excitement going on over here?" until the crowd was full(ish.) My thought process throughout their set will now be set to a chronological list:

- heh, this is pretty cool. i was right, the live set is going to make the cd pop later.
- DANG OK SRSLY THIS IS GOOD WHERE IS ROO
- *increased intensity of headbobbing activated*
- Roo, OMG, right??? RIGHT???
-"WOOOOOO!"....... "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
- OMFG is that sweet Lil Jenna of Jenna & The Jintlemen playing maracas to a blasting "Walk Like an Egyptian" cover? Sometimes life is so worth living.
- This is perhaps one of the most raging end of a set I've ever heard. top three. wish it would go one for another 10 minutes or so.
- I'll settle for 3. AHWOOOO!
-Suddenly reminded of being 5 or 6 years old listening to the new Purple Rain soundtrack in the car with my family and my dad saying how much he liked Prince (he bought the tape) but "man, he just can't end a song." sometimes that's just the way it should be. could you imagine if "Let's Go Crazy" just stopped? That would be just wrong.
- what am i talking about? I'm going for a smoke. good show.

After a smoke and hanging back while the band loaded out, I stopped by to get some scoop... Iamdynamite recently(?) underwent a rebirth; a major move from Detroit and a name change... Chris #1's wife got a job in RTP and Chris #2 followed. If I had a sound as successful as this, I think I would move as well; also, Detroit. (to ponder and possibly research, how much constant comparison do the guys get to the White Stripes, being a duo from Detroit? Or Eminem? I'm kidding. Eminem is terrible.) Then comes the major blow! The orginal name of the band was Mahoney... but after some kids in nevernever land took the name before anything super-official could happen, the name was changed. Here is my theory on what the Mahoney name comes from: Police academy? **OR** Natalie Portman's character in  "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium" ....  I think it's the latter. That makes me giggle.

As we were speaking, a friend or two dropped by to ask about merch or CDs for sale, and this is how the whole name change story came out; all the swag still says Mahoney. (keke!) so in my own brazen assholish way, I asked Chris #1 to use a sharpie and just cross out the wrong name and write it in. So I am now in the possession of a fridge magnet and CD with one name scratched out and the right one written in. and then a just random ass Mahoney shot glass. My plan is to take shots and then rage about the fraudulence of the glass. (is - "THIS WHISKEY IS A LIE, MAHONEY DOES NOT EXIST... INCEPTION!!")



This was one of those rare and extremely enjoyable instances where I got to actually speak with and become friendly with a band i have discovered and really, truly liked. It was really cool/evident that both of the boys are music instructors. Also, on a personal note (aka all things are on a personal note) despite the fact both Chrises are married, no offense to the wives; but it's like, if you could somehow merge these guys into one Chris they would pretty much be the most physically perfect man in the world. As is, both are too cute for words. I'd very much like and very much plan on seeing them play again. I had every intention of seeing them the following weekend, but as the next review shall reveal: Birds of Avalon! sorry dynamite bros! play soon!

There is some pictures and snarky comments about the next bands.

Rocket Surgeon ...they were all cute in that "duke lacrosse rapist" sense but yet every song sounded like a 311 cover song, or variations on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" over and over. They technically knew what they were doing but good god, man. If i wanted to listen to Third Eye Blind or Vertical Horizon I'd go see my dentist.

This screencap is all I really have to say about River City Ransom:

In case you didn't know, oh dear god i love Roo.

Shameless Self Promotion

 

Me, Jay, Slim's. 

xoxo

GIVEAWAY - MARNIE STERN, TERA MELOS, GRAY YOUNG! March 1 @ King's!

As my loyal readers (there may be like, three guys, I dunno,) know of my fanaticism and Superfandom of *certain* local bands, it comes as great pleasure to announce that my first GIVEAWAY will be to see said certain band. AKA OMG GRAY YOUNGGGGG!* ….Who just happens so happens to be opening for Marnie Stern and Tera Melos at King’s on Tuesday, March 1^st

This giveaway will be probably be the first in a long line of me getting way too excited about seeing a certain show and assuming Roo or Jay will turn over their entire schedules to join me in seeing an artist they either may not know too well or have seen a bajillion times… This may be one such case. I assumed and went ahead and bought two tickets… the giveaway is for one itty bitty ticket and the show experience of a lifetime - WITH ME!!! Eh, free is free, yeah? (and can I tell you how excited I am to expose someone new to Gray Young and they happen to be a part of my first giveaway?!?)

Here is how to win a “date” with me to this show:

Reblog/Repost/Retwit …I dunno what the kids call it these days. Help generate some more blog- buzz. Point me in the direction of your re-post and I’ll pick someone at random, (most likely the person to spawns the most comments/conversation/reblogs) to join me!  Just shoot me an email (karlaanne at gmail) or post a comment below to let me know you've entered! Or hey, tag me in a repost on facebook!

SURE you could just spring for that hefty $8 ticket yourself, but! Here are the benefits to seeing a show with me, in particular, this show:

- Marnie Stern. Do you know about her? I am judging you if you don’t. She plays guitar like Les Claypool plays bass – all wonky and wild. She is going to blow the roof off that place. It’s going to be a hot mess…. One would assume. If you win the ticket it is partially part of your responsibility to get right up front with me and get ballistic. I am really looking forward to seeing her. GIRL POWER! THE 90S!
- I am ridiculous over Gray Young. No, Seriously. And seeing a band with someone who loves a band as much as I love Gray Young is addictive. I will make you like them. No, seriously. You will enjoy it. They are pretty decent….  I AM KIDDING THEY ARE THE BEST.
- I will not crowd your space. A typical night out with me will consist of you sending me texts throughout the night saying “where did you go??” (hint: I am up front. I am downstairs at Neptune’s. I am outside smoking. I somehow wound up at Landmark.)
- I can promise you ONE SUPER DELUXE if not TWO delicious beverages from the Pabst Brewing Company. In lieu of PBR, pending lack of excessive funding a dip or two of THE BEARD may be in order. 
- You will star in the next review – you will have a million pictures of you all over the internet.
- WE ARE NEW FRIENDS!

Best of luck and if you don’t win, come to the show anyway – hope to see you there! SUPPORT YOUR SCENE! Xoxo

*pronounced: young-guh-guh-guh-guh-guh-guh

Nests with Jenna and the Jintlemen - LBLB - 02/17/11

Did you ever play Sims? Like, the original setting-yourself-on-fire-because-you-can’t-cook and i-got-blocked-in-a-corner-by-a-dirty-plate Sims? The I-hired-a-maid-just-to-recycle-the-newspaper version… You know what I mean. Remember the Tired Sim Stumble? It would just be standing there trying to flirt with a neighbor and then it would just fling itself forward in a “Demons Out!” gesture before just walking away and going to bed? That was me this night. My sim-energy bar was very low green. I worked both jobs and wasn’t sure if I’d even go out but then I got 2 messages in a row asking if I would come, so of course! I cannot resist my LBLB crew!

It is a delicate operation; the reviewing of friend-bands... Nests features one of my inner-circle friends playing a very non-traditional instrument; Benny on the Singing Saw. I had missed my first opportunity to see Nests at Market a few weeks back, so I was very glad I had the chance to do so now. It made my heart all warm and fuzzy that some of my closest friends were right up front with me, in clear Ben-Ben-View... It felt very intimate and special. Nests has a very distinct sound you pretty much have to be really in the mood for... the technicality of the music is flawless, well written, perfectly performed, certainly unique; the mood of the music is ...I dunno... spooky! the songs, without the singing saw would be almost drone-y (read:shoegazer?), lonesome cowboy sings the blues-ish. With the addition of the saw, everything is haunted. In fact I at one point had to ask Roo if tir na nog was, in fact, haunted. It was hard to ignore the intensity of the mood. It's almost impossible for me to remain completely unbiased and objective here because I have so much love for Benny. It's hard not to gush about my out-of-bounds pride in his accomplishments. I have a very special place in my heart for this man. I can't tell you the number of 5 minute drunken life changing conversations we've had in the darkest corners of Jackpot. I couldn't help but get a bit choked up during this performance because I'm not sure I know of a person more deserving of all their dreams coming true. I personally, am not a huge fan of the alt-country genre, but good tunes are good, (obvious statements are obvious,) and I enjoyed this set- but i'm not going to lie, I still can't tell if it's because of the music or the pride...?

Roo was very sure I would like and should definitely check out Jenna Smith. I had apparently seen her at a LBLB months before, but must have had one of those KA-Patented-drunk-wanderings-offish nights. I do remember (after roo reminded me) it was the night I met Jeremy from Nests! Hey hey - full circle! I was right up from with Jonny and Sarah and we barely stopped talking through the whole set because we just couldn't stop talking about how adorable and amazing she is! As I remember, the original set we had seen was Jenna and an acoustic guitar only. Adding the rest of the Jintlemen (Zack, Adam, and Nick from Annuals, Johnny Hobbs, and her brother Shane from the Windsor Oaks Band,) kicked the mood into a frenzy. Well, okay frenzy might be pushing it. Well, okay the last song was a flipping frenzy... Unexpected amazingness! After the last song blow-out, Jonny and I start fist-pumping and screaming "AGAIN AGAIN!" - I turned to roo and literally said “Goddamn! If that was just playing on my ipod I would hit REPEAT!” - That is a frenzy. However the rest of the set hovered somewhere around adorable/swingy/funky/rockin'/ and all back to adorable again...

Yup, Nick.

We couldn't help but play fashion police during this show. (ps - Jonny t, i swear to god i don't want to ever go to another show without you again. too much fun!) Completely shallow and hilarious observations about this crew: Jenna: OMG BOOT ENVY. can she get any more precious? Cutest thing ever. Johnny: totally one of the cutest dudes in Raleigh. want to squish his face off. then possibly make out with that face. Nick: FACE IS AT 92% BEARD CAPACITY.

After the show i ran into Mike, one of the certifiable Gray Young Army members, who missed the last show, I made sure THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

ANGERRRRRRRRRR!

miscellaneous addendum: Schooner at King's Friday night... SHOW FAIL. I am so mad at myself. I was asleep by 11. I said no more apologizing to bands, but dammit you guys, I'm sorry. I suck. :(

The Love Hangover - King's - 02/15/11

Valentine’s day was practically non-existent for me this year. I worked my day job, worked my night job, came home and took a bath and spoke to no one of the opposite sex besides co-workers and my brother, whom I called at one point to check up on as he is recovering from pneumonia. In a failed attempt to consider possibly maybe dating my band-mate for a minute, (who is now and will hopefully remain a bestie-in-training, [just works better that way,]) I found myself single, yet again, on V-day.

Activities to avoid for singles on Valentine’s Day:
-While driving 4 hour delivery shift, do not listen to Mumford & Sons on rotation. You will get pissy and most likely cry pissy tears.
-Do not post seemingly ambiguous, yet painfully obvious “I miss you” posts as your facebook status and immediately delete them; someone will probably see.
-Do not hold potential dating options to impossibly high standards; ((some of my more shameful requirements include dismissing any man without facial hair immediately [superficial!], refusing to date anyone who has dated (read:fucked) anyone else I’ve ever known/rigorous adherence to the “anti-sloppy-seconds” rule [choices are so limited!], men who are any shorter than my height (5’11”) are practically invisible,)) and then bitch about “why am I single?”
-Do not hold a candle for or get weepy about an ex who made no attempt to contact you in any way in the past eleventy billion months. Most importantly, do not type out emails or texts you seemingly think might be brilliant in which you have no intention to hit send on. You might accidentally hit send (I didn’t but I can see this sort of thing happening to me.)

Suggested activities for singles on Valentine’s day:
-Find a distraction such as blogging, song writing, bubble baths, alcohol or painkillers. Consider a delightful mixture of all these things.
-Denial, denial, denial
-Support and feel happy for friends and family that are in happy and mutually respectful relationships (…just kidding. Fuck those people.)
-Realize that your life is pretty much exactly where you want it to be and you didn’t need a consistently accessible penis to make that a reality... You did it on your own! Hoorah!
-Go see a show! Or at least as soon as possible, for example… The next day!

The Love Hangover!

We meant to be there earlier, but in a hivemindish-groove, Jay and I managed to get a song that we had been piddling with for weeks down and quasi-recorded. We didn’t get out of the house until after 10.  I’m not sure who we missed, but upon walking into King’s it was apparent that love was in the air; Or every attempt to feign this feeling was in effect. The little sweetheart tables in front of the stage, massive candelabras and miscellaneous candles all over the stage – roses and mood lighting. It was adorable. 

Are you tired widdle jay? TOO BAD... YOU GO TO SHOW!

Billie Karel & Scott Phillips

Magic! And instant digression: This was my confusion throughout the night… Were the “couples” actual couples? I know in the past certain actual couples have done the Love Hangover, but I wasn’t good enough friends with most of these kids to get the real story. I know this isn’t all Perez Hilton, but I kinda want this scoop… Are Billie and Scott a couple? I have decided they need to be. They had an incredible chemistry together… If anything, they seriously need to keep working together musically. Also, I think as musicians alone, they are incredibly talented. Billie (from The Shucks) has a voice like no one’s business; a friend and I stood outside smoking later and gushed for several minutes about how hard she nailed Sinéad ‘s “The Last Day of Our Acquaintance” (ps - a song I have ALWAYS wanted to sing. Also Troy. Note to self: somehow convince Jay to work on a cover of Troy.) So not only did these two have the popping electric connection and mad skills, but they were so much fun! It’s hard to screw up when Scott (Goner, The Monologue Bombs) gets involved. As they are playing Jay confessed his secret mancrush on Scott. (Secret no more, beeteedubs) It’s easy to see why, dude has charm…. and later with a giddy grin, Jay finds me and says “I met Billie!” as if she is a superstar. I have decided right now; yes. She is. I love this gal’s voice. I want to see them play together again! I am now mentally superfanning The Shucks, Goner and Mono-Bombs. My face was *hurting* from smiling so much while they played… I Got You Babe? …too much!

Christy Smith & Patrick Phelan

Cute. Cute. Cute! Christy Smith has one of the most tender (Haw! Get it? Because she is in The Tender Fruit!) and heartbreakingly precious voices in town. She has one of those voices that remind me of my mom singing Hank Williams songs to me when I was a little girl. There is no pressure of power behind it, it is clean and soft like a dryer sheet… You could take her voice on a picnic and it would push you in the tire swing; it would most likely be sometime in April. What I am trying to say here is I like her voice. Patrick is adorable. I got to finally talk to him for a sec in the later sets and he’s a really nice guy. What is up with me meeting all these folks who could, by rights, be total a-holes because they are local-famous-ish and pretty good-looking, but turn out to be really cool? I feel kinda douchey because the only Luego review I have attempted turned into the worst thing ever. It wasn’t personal; I had a death in the family, dammit! But so what I’m getting at here is, hey I *do* appreciate and support and will check out more Luego shows (I am listening to them now!) and I think Christy & Patrick was a smart combo. I remember as they were playing that I should start carrying a tiny notebook to keep up with setlists and such when I some to multiple act shows like this and my main point of that was to be all like “I really liked ‘THIS’ song in their set”. I forgot. (This is why I will never be a professional) -  but I do know I liked it. This set was very chilled out and made me long for springtime!

Abby Nardo & Seamus Kenney

MY FRONDS! These guys, honestly, were my big draw to the LH… I was really excited to see Abby perform for the first time (first time for me seeing, at least!) and of course, Seamus (of every band ever fame, and no this joke will never get old with me. and yes he is in SNMNMNMMNMNFfggg; whom I saw for the first time about 8 years ago in Wilmington opening for MC Chris and that hurts my brain to think about.) I really am going to get all Perez here for a second; I cannot stop talking about Abby’s damn dress! Yes, yes I understand it is from Target but come on, that thing is freakin adorable! I am just a baby doll pink addict… Love it! Seamus was all blazered-out, too! Of the couples so far (that I saw), Abby and Seamus definitely stepped up the classy-meter! I honestly didn’t know what to expect here, but I certainly didn’t anticipate Sloan! RANDOM! Who remembers Sloan? Me, Seamus and the members of the band Sloan, apparently. That is one more cool point for Seamus! Then - A Joni Mitchell song, which was impeccably perfect for Abby’s voice.  They eventually had Dieter from Sprockets join them on stage to play the xylophone. I’m kidding. It wasn’t Dieter, but he was a very Norse-looking pretty man. I don’t remember his name. Abby also had this little tiny laptop xylophone that was too adorable. Again, I don’t think/know if Abby & Seamus are a couple, but in my mind they are. They have a very George and Gracie rapport and I could have listened to the silly banter all night… okay, I have decided: Dear Abby and Seamus, you are now dating. YAY! <3 <3 <3

LOLEDIT: 

Ashley Carter & Jeff Crawford

WOW. So much to say about this duo…! Once again – please be married; Make this happen often. Maybe love was just in the air, that’s why I am trying to force my loving will on those around me. Ashley Carter (Stella Lively): the voice, the dress! I was already smitten after a couple songs, this is a voice that makes you sit up and take notice. This is a voice that has told some pretty gritty stories and had survived some big hurts. Ashley has a voice that sends you blindly groping in the direction of the bar hoping someone puts a jack in your hand before it's too late. Her voice has this distinctively sexy but totally approachable quality… Like the hottest girl in the room came up to *you* and you’re like, “what the hell? Am I gay now? Okay, I’d be really dumb to not take advantage of this opportunity.” (Opportunity in this case is the use of your ears.) I asked Patrick Phelan about Jeff Crawford, (he looked familiar) and he confirmed my suspicions; Jeff Crawford and Seamus are now in competition for “In Every Band Ever” Ironman. Mr Crawford’s work (in addition to his already full time producing work & solo releases) includes: SpencerAcuff, Roman Candle, Max Indian, Thad Cockrell, Ryan Gustafson, The Sundowners, Mount Moriah, Luego, The Young Sons, Bright Young Things, and Tad Dreis. …Dude! Enough! So this is why He looked familiar: Every Band Ever. Oh and I just checked his reverbnation and apparently he is playing with The Tomahawks this Friday (with Schooner) … Seamus is getting some serious competition here. Jeff Crawford is really going to fuddle my “local music family tree” all up. Rambling aside: He’s pretty damn good. Obvs. I don’t think this many bands would want to be associated with someone sub-par… (also note: epic beard. See dating standards listed above; this means this guy is cute.) I two-stepped with Tony Woodard while we lip synched “Islands in the Stream” to each other during this set. That, by the way, was amazing. But what I mostly wanted to say was …PJ HARVEY. That was my loudest and proudest “WOO!!!”ing of the night. All bands need to play PJ Harvey, especially PJ Harvey. (note to self: convince Jay into letting me cover a polly jean song.) I’ve never seen PJH live, but I accept this version of Rid of Me as the real thing, it was that spot on. you guys = hero status to me for that one.

And hey, that was the end! Well, as far as I know… We took off! It was Jay’s first day off after like 15 days in a row or something ridiculous, so I know he was knackered (and yet I somehow convinced him to stay up another hour or so watching Morrissey videos with me. I’m such a good friend!) So overall I would say the evening was a resounding success and love was most def in the air! Hell of a show for only $8…! Imagine the suckers who spent that kinda loot on movie tickets or chipotle tonight instead. 

Thanks everyone, it was much enjoyed and appreciated! <3 <3 <3

And we'll rely on each other... ah ahhhhh!

Veelee 2nd Anniversary Party with Juan Huevos & Motor Skills - King's - 02/13/11

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